The efficacy of spinal manipulative therapy in the management of mechanical thoracic spine pain

Abstract

Objectives To investigate the efficacy of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) in the management of mechanical thoracic spine pain. It was postulated by the researcher that with manipulation of the affected thoracic spinal segment, there would be a significantly greater improvement than by only applying placebo treatment. Summary of background data There have been no substantiated studies performed up to this date to investigate the efficacy of SMT on thoracic syndromes. Study design A single-blind, randomised, comparative, controlled pilot study. Methods Thirty subjects selected from the general population, diagnosed as having mechanical thoracic spine pain, were randomly divided into two different treatment groups. Each group consisted of fifteen patients between the ages of 16 and 60 years. The first group received thoracic spine manipulation. The second group received placebo treatment only. iii The research project was carried out where both groups received a maximum of six treatments over a minimum period of two weeks. Thereafter a follow-up appointment