The relative efficacy of two varied chiropractic manipulative techniques in the treatment of mechanical upper thoracic and neck pain

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the spinous push versus the transverse process contact rotary type adjustments in the treatment of sub-acute and chronic mechanical upper thoracic and neck pain. It was hypothesized that both adjustments, over a maximum of nine treatments with two treatments per week and a further four week follow-up period, would be effective in terms of improving the patients' cervical ranges of motion, vertebral pressure pain threshold levels and their perceptions of pain and disability. The study design was a randomized, un-blinded, un-controlled comparative group study with a sample population consisting of thirty consecutive patients (Ave. age 35.4 years; M:F 16: 14) suffering from joint dysfunction of the cervical or upper thoracic spine. Each group received one adjustment two times a week for a maximum of nine treatments. Soft tissue therapy was employed in each treatment as a pre-adjustment procedure. The objective data collected was goniometrically assessed cervical range of motion and algometrically assessed vertebral pressure pain thresholds. The subjective data was collected by means of the CMCC Neck Disability, the Short Form McGill Pain and the Numerical Pain Rating Scale-l0 1 Questionnaires.