Inclusion of thoracic spine thrust manipulation into an electro-therapy/thermal program for the management of patients with acute mechanical neck pain: A randomized clinical trial

Our aim was to examine the effects of a seated thoracic spine distraction thrust manipulation included in an electrotherapy/thermal program on pain, disability, and cervical range of motion in patients with acute neck pain. This randomized controlled trial included 45 patients (20 males, 25 females)...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: González Iglesias, Javier, Fernández de las Peñas, César, Cleland, Joshua A., Alburquerque Sendín, Francisco, Palomeque del Cerro, Luis, Méndez Sánchez, Roberto
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2009
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Salamanca (USAL)
Repositorio:GREDOS. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Salamanca
OAI Identifier:oai:gredos.usal.es:10366/167580
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10366/167580
Access Level:acceso embargado
Palabra clave:Neck pain
Spinal manipulation
Thoracic spine
Electrotherapy
Dolor de cuello
Manipulación espinal
Columna torácica
Electroterapia
Neck Pain
dolor de cuello
Descripción
Sumario:Our aim was to examine the effects of a seated thoracic spine distraction thrust manipulation included in an electrotherapy/thermal program on pain, disability, and cervical range of motion in patients with acute neck pain. This randomized controlled trial included 45 patients (20 males, 25 females) between 23 and 44 years of age presenting with acute neck pain. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: an experimental group which received a thoracic manipulation, and a control group which did not receive the manipulative procedure. Both groups received an electrotherapy program consisting of 6 sessions of TENS (frequency 100 Hz; 20 min), superficial thermotherapy (15 min) and soft tissue massage. The experimental group also received a thoracic manipulation once a week for 3 consecutive weeks. Outcome measures included neck pain (numerical pain rate scale; NPRS), level of disability (Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire; NPQ) and neck mobility. These outcomes were assessed at baseline and 1 week after discharge. A 2-way repeated-measures ANOVA with group as between-subject variable and time as within-subject variable was used. Patients receiving thoracic manipulation experienced greater reductions in both neck pain, with between-group difference of 2.3 (95% CI 2e2.7) points on a 11-NPRS, and perceived disability with between-group differences 8.5 (95% CI 7.2e9.8) points. Further, patients receiving thoracic manipulation experienced greater increases in all cervical motions with between-group differences of 10.6 (95% CI 8.8e12.5 ) for flexion; 9.9 (95% CI 8.1e11.7 ) for extension; 9.5 (95% CI 7.6e11.4 ) for right lateral-flexion; 8 (95% CI 6.2e9.8 ) for left lateral-flexion; 9.6 (95% CI 7.7e11.6 ) for right rotation; and 8.4 (95% CI 6.5e10.3 ) for left rotation. We found that the inclusion of a thoracic manipulation into an electrotherapy/thermal program was effective in reducing neck pain and disability, and in increasing active cervical mobility in patients with acute neck pain.