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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01917071

The Effect of Directional Specific Thoracic Spine Mobilization on Cervical Spine Pain

Hypothesis: There is no difference in directional specific manipulation of the thoracic spine for patients with neck pain.

Patients seeking physical therapy for neck pain routinely have their thoracic spine manipulated. This study seeks to determine if directional limitations in the spine can be specifically determined and treated to decrease neck pain.

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Key information

Conditions

Neck Pain Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Chatham University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15221, United States

About this study

Manipulation of the thoracic spine is the most commonly used manual therapy intervention by manual therapists. It is not known whether we can accurately assess and treat directional limitations in the thoracic spine to improve neck pain.

One way is to assess where the limitation is and treat it. Another method is to distract the joint. We want to know if matching the limitation to the manipulation method will give patients with neck pain better results.

The patient lays on their back. The therapist places a hand on the inferior vertebrae of the motion segment. The patient relaxes and the therapist pushes in an anterior to posterior direction either moving the vertebrae into flexion or entension.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients with Neck Pain; ages 18 - 60

Exclusion criteria

  • red flags: leg weakness, night pain, history of cancer, upper motor neuron signs, infection, tumors, osteoporosis, fracture (Boissonnault, 2011) (Cleland, 2004) history of whiplash within 6 weeks, cervical stenosis, CNS involvement, signs consistent with nerve root compression, previous surgery, pending legal action

Treatment and study plan

Thoracic spine manipulation

Other

a manual technique applied to the mid back to promote motion

Primary outcomes

  1. Neck Disability Index

    Time frame: 2 weeks

    Objective, valid, reliable measure of function in patients with neck pain. Completed as a survey.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Neck Pain

    Time frame: 2 weeks

    Selection of 0 to 10 level of pain.

Interested in participating?

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Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Chatham University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Directional Specific Thoracic Spine Mobilization on Cervial Spine Pain.

Important dates

Study start
2013
Primary completion
2015
Study completion
2015
First posted
Aug 6, 2013
Registry last updated
Jul 28, 2015

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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