The effectiveness of thoracic spine manipulation for the management of musculoskeletal conditions: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy

Volumn 17, Issue 4, 2009, Pages 237-246

  Walser, Ronald F ^a   Meserve, Brent B ^b   Boucher, Thomas R ^c  

^a Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center   (United States)

^b DARTMOUTH HITCHCOCK MEDICAL CENTER   (United States)

^c PLYMOUTH STATE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

Meta analysis; Shoulder; Spinal manipulation; Systematic review; Thoracic spine

Indexed keywords

CLINICAL TRIAL; DISEASE DURATION; FOLLOW UP; HUMAN; META ANALYSIS; MUSCLE STRENGTH; MUSCULOSKELETAL DISEASE; MYALGIA; NECK PAIN; ONLINE SYSTEM; ORTHOPEDIC MANIPULATION; OUTCOME ASSESSMENT; PAIN ASSESSMENT; PHYSICAL DISABILITY; QUALITY CONTROL; RANGE OF MOTION; REVIEW; SHOULDER; SHOULDER PAIN; SYSTEMATIC REVIEW; THERAPY EFFECT; THORACIC SPINE; TREATMENT DURATION; TREATMENT OUTCOME; TREATMENT RESPONSE;

EID: 75149153373     PISSN: 10669817     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1179/106698109791352085     Document Type: Review

References (59)

1. Adams G, Sim J. A survey of UK manual therapists' practice of and attitudes toward manipulation and its complications. Physiother Res Int 1998;3:206-227.
2. nd ed. Phys Ther 2001;81:9-746.
3. Aspegren D, Hyde T, Miller M. Conservative treatment of a female collegiate volleyball player with costochondritis. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2007;30:321-325.
4. Bergman GJD, Winters JC, Groenier KH, et al. Manipulative therapy in addition to usual medical care for patients with shoulder dysfunction and pain. Ann Intern Med 2004;141:432-439.
5. Boyles RE, Ritland BM, Miracle BM, et al. The short-term effects of thoracic spine thrust manipulation on patients with shoulder impingement syndrome. Man Ther 2009;14:375-380.
6. Browder DA, Erhard RE, Piva SR. Intermittent cervical traction and thoracic manipulation for management of mild cervical compressive myelopathy attributed to cervical herniated disc: A case series. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2004;34:701-712.
7. Budgell B, Polus B. The effects of thoracic manipulation on heart rate variability: A controlled crossover trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2006;29:603-610.
8. Cleland J, Selleck B, Stowell T, et al. Short-term effects of thoracic manipulation on lower trapezius muscle strength. J Aian Manip Ther 2004;12:82-90.
9. Cleland JA, Whitman JM, Fritz JM, Palmer J. Manual physical therapy, cervical traction and strengthening exercises in patients with cervical radiculopathy: A case series. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2005;35:802-811.
10. Cleland JA, Childs JD, McRae M, Palmer JA, Stowell T. Immediate effects of thoracic spine manipulation in patients with neck pain: A randomized clinical trial. Man Ther 2005;10:127-135.
11. Cleland JA, Flynn TW, Childs JD, Eberhart S. The audible pop from thoracic spine thrust manipulation and its relation to short-term outcomes in patients with neck pain. J Man Manip Ther 2007;15:143-154.
12. Cleland JA, Childs JD, Fritz JM, Whitman JM, Eberhart S. Development of a clinical prediction rule for guiding treatment of a subgroup of patients with neck pain: Use of thoracic spine manipulation, exercise, and patient education. Phys Ther 2007;87:9-23.
13. Cleland JA, Glynn P, Whitman JM, Eberhart S, MacDonald C, Childs JD. Short-term effects of thrust versus nonthrust mobilization/manipulation directed at the thoracic spine in patients with neck pain: A randomized clinical trial. Phys Ther 007;87:431-440.
14. Fernández-de-las-Peñas C, Fernández-Carnero J, Fernández AP, Lomas-Varga R, Miangolarra-Page JC. Dorsal manipulation in whiplash injury treatment: A randomized controlled trial. J Whiplash Rel Disord 2004;3:55-72.
15. Fernández-de-las-Peñas C, Palomeque-del-Cerro L, Rodríguez-Blanco C, Gómez-Conesa A, Miangolarra-Page JC. Changes in neck pain and active range of motion after a single thoracic spine manipulation in subjects presenting with mechanical neck pain: A case series. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2007;30:312-320.
16. Fernández-de-las-Peñas C, Alonso-Blanco C, Cleland JA, Rodríguez-Blanco C, Albuquerque-Sendín F. Changes in pressure pain thresholds over C5-C6 zygapophyseal joint after a cervicothoracic junction manipulation in healthy subjects. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2008;31:332-337.
17. Gonzáles-Iglesias J, Fernández-de-las-Peñas C, Cleland JA, Albuquerque-Sendín F, Palomeque-del-Cerro L, Méndez-Sánchez R. Inclusion of thoracic spine thrust manipulation into an electrotherapy/thermal program for the management of patients with acute mechanical neck pain: A randomized clinical trial. Man Ther 2009; 14:306-313.
18. González-Iglesias J, Fernández-de-las-Peñas C, Cleland JA, Gutiérrez-Vega MR. Thoracic spine manipulation for the management of patients with neck pain: A randomized clinical trial. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2009;39:20-27.
19. Krauss J, Creighton D, Ely JD, Podlewska-EIy J. The immediate effects of upper thoracic translatoric spinal manipulation on cervical pain and range of motion: A randomized clinical trial. J Man Manip Ther 2008;16:93-99.
20. Pho C, Godges J. Management of whiplash-associated disorder addressing thoracic and cervical spine impairments: A case report. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2004;34:511-519.
21. Savolainen A, Ahlberg J, Nummila H, Nissinen M. Active or passive treatment for neck-shoulder pain in occupational health care? A randomized controlled trial. Occup Med 2004;54:422-424.
22. Strunk RG, Hondras MA. A feasibility study assessing manual therapies to different regions of the spine for patients with subacute or chronic neck pain. J Chiropr Med 2008;7:1-8.
23. Waldrop MA. Diagnosis and treatment of cervical radiculopathy using a clinical prediction rule and a multimodal intervention approach: A case series. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2006;36:152-159.
24. Wainner RS, Whitman JM, Cleland JA, Flynn TW. Regional interdependence: A musculoskeletal examination model whose time has come [guest editorial]. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2007;37:658-660.
25. Norlander S, Gustavsson B-A, Lindell J, Nordgren B. Reduced mobility in the cervico-thoracic motion segment-a risk factor for musculoskeletal neck-shoulder pain: A two-year prospective follow-up study. Scand J Rehab Med 1997;29:167-174.
26. Norlander S, Aste-Norlander U, Nordgren B, Sahlstedt B. Mobility in the cervico-thoracic motion segment: An indicative factor of musculoskeletal neck-shoulder pain. Scand J Rehab Med 1996;28:183-192.
27. Norlander S, Nordgren B. Clinical symptoms related to musculoskeletal neck-shoulder pain and mobility in the cervico-thoracic spine. Scand J Rehab Med 1998;30:243-251.
28. Bialosky JE, Bishop MD, George SZ. Regional interdependence: A musculoskeletal examination whose time has come [letters to the editor-in-chief]. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2008;38:159-160.
29. Wainner RS, Whitman JM, Cleland JA, Flynn TW. Authors' response [letters to the editor-in-chief]. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2008:38:160.
30. Ross JK, Bereznick DE, McGill SM. Determining cavitation location during lumbar and thoracic spinal manipulation. Spine 2004;29:1452-1457.
31. Herzog W, Kats M, Symons B. The effective forces transmitted by high-speed, low-amplitude thoracic manipulation. Spine 2001;26:2105-2111.
32. Hedges LV, Olkin I. Statistical Methods for Meta-Analysis. Orlando, FL: Academic Press, 1985.
33. Olivo SA, Macedo LG, Gadotti IC, Fuentes J, Stanton T, Magee DJ. Scales to assess the quality of randomized controlled trials: A systematic review. Phys Ther 2008;88:156-175.
34. Maher CG, Sherrigton C, Herbert RD, Moseley AM, Elkins M. Reliability of the PEDro Scale for rating quality of randomized controlled trials. Phys Ther 2003;83:713-721.
35. Horton SJ. Acute locked thoracic spine: Treatment with a modified SNAG. Man Ther 2002;7:103-107.
36. Allison GT, Nagy BM, Hall T. A randomized clinical trial of manual therapy for cervicobrachial pain syndrome: A pilot study. Man Ther 2002;7:95-102.
37. Cleland JA, Flynn TW, Palmer JA. Incorporation of manual therapy directed at the cervicothoracic spine in patients with lateral epicondylalgia: A pilot clinical trial. J Man Manip Ther 2005;13:143-151.
38. Ferreira ML, Ferreira PH, Hodges PW. Changes in postural activity of the truck muscles following spinal manipulative therapy. Man Ther 2007;12:240-248.
39. Liebler EJ, Tufano-Coors L, Douris P, et al. The effect of thoracic spine mobilization on lower trapezius strength testing. J Man Manip Ther 2001;9:207-212.
40. Bereznick DE, Ross JK, McGill SM. The frictional properties at the thoracic skin-fascia interface: Implications in spine manipulation. Clin Biomech 2002;17:297-303.
41. Keating L, Lubke C, Powell V, Young T, Souvlis T, Jull G. Mid-thoracic tenderness: A comparison of pressure pain threshold between spinal regions, in asymptomatic subjects. Man Ther 2001;6:34-39.
42. Fernández de las Peñas C, Palomeque del Cerro L, Fernández Carnero J. Manual treatment of post-whiplash injury. J Bodywork Movement Ther 2005;9:109-119.
43. Lee DG. Rotational instability of the midthoracic spine: Assessment and management. Man Ther 1996;1:234-241.
44. Winters JC, Jorritsma W, Groenier KH, Sobel JS, Meyboom-de Jong B, Arendzen HJ. Treatment of shoulder complaints in general practice: Long-term results of a randomized, single-blind study comparing physiotherapy, manipulation, and corticosteroid injection. BMJ 1999;318:1395-1396.
45. Schiller L. Effectiveness of spinal manipulative therapy in the treatment of mechanical thoracic spine pain: A pilot randomized clinical trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2001;24:394-401.
46. Winters JC, Sobel JS, Groenier KH, Arendzen HJ, Meyboom-de Jong B. Comparison of physiotherapy, manipulation, and corticosteroid injection for treating shoulder complaints in general practice: Randomized, single-blind study. BMJ 1997;314:1320-1325.
47. Parkin-Smith GF, Penter CS. A clinical trial investigating the effect of two manipulative approaches in the treatment of mechanical neck pain: A pilot study. JNMS 1998;6:6-16.
48. Cleland J, Durall CJ. Physical therapy for adhesive capsulitis. Physiotherapy 2002;88: 450-457.
49. Pickar JG. Neurophysiological effects of spinal manipulation. Spine J 2002;2:357-371.
50. Skyba DA, Radhakrishnan R, Rohlwing JJ, Wright A, Sluka KA. Joint manipulation reduces hyperalgesia by activation of monoamine receptors but not opioid or GABA receptors in the spinal cord. Pain 2003;106: 159-168.
51. Suter E, Herzog W, Conway PJ, Zhang YT. Reflex response associated with manipulative treatment of the thoracic spine. JNMS 1994;2:124-130.
52. Herzog W, Conway PJ, Zhang YT, Gal J, Guimaraes ACS. Reflex response associated with manipulative treatments on the thoracic spine: A pilot study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1995;18:233-236.
53. Herzog W, Scheele D, Conway PJ. Electromyographic responses of back and limb muscles associated with spinal manipulative therapy. Spine 1999;24:146-153.
54. Price DD, Milling LS, Kirsch I, Duff A, Montgomery GH, Nicholls SS. An analysis of factors that contribute to the magnitude of placebo analgesia in an experimental paradigm. Pain 1999;83:147-156.
55. Ernst E. Adverse effects of spinal manipulation: A systematic review. J R Soc Med 2007;100:330-338.
56. Dvorak J, Loustalot D, Baumgartner H, Antinnes JA. Frequency of complications of manipulation of the spine: A survey among the members of the Swiss Medical Society of Manual Medicine. Eur Spine J 1993;2:136-139.
57. Oppenheim JS, Spitzer DE, Segal DH. Nonvascular complications following spinal manipulation. Spine J 2005;5:660-667.
58. Decoster LC, Cleland J, Altieri C, Russell P. The effects of hamstring stretching on range of motion: A systematic literature review. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2005;35:377-387.
59. Coppola SM, Collins SM. Is physical therapy more beneficial than unsupervised home exercise in treatment of post-surgical knee disorders? A systematic review. Knee 2009; 16;171-175.