Effects of thoracic spine manipulation on pressure pain sensitivity of rhomboid muscle active trigger points: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effects of thoracic spine manipulation on pain pressure sensitivity of rhomboids muscles and thoracic spine mobility.

Methods: The randomised controlled trial was conducted at the Women Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences, Abbottabad, Pakistan, from July to December 2019, and comprised subjects aged 18-30 years having active trigger points in rhomboid muscle. The subjects were randomised into experimental group A and control group B. The eperimental group received thoracic manipulation along with conventional physical therapy, while the control group only received conventional physical therapy. The intervention lasted 2 sessions per week for 3 weeks. Pre- and post-intervention assessment was done with numeric pain rating scale, algometry, inclinometer and the neck disability index. Data was analysed using SPSS 20.

Results: Of the 60 subjects, there were 30(50%) in each of the two groups. There were 21(70%) females and 9(30%) males in group A with an overall mean age of 23.86±4.56 years. In group B, there were 18(60%) females and 12(40%) males, with an overall mean age of 23.93±3.96. There was significant improvement in terms of pain (p<0.01) and pain pressure sensitivity (p<0.05). All outcome measures showed significant intra-group differences (p<0.000).

Conclusions: Upper thoracic spine manipulation was found to be more effective in treating interscapular pain and pain pressure threshold of trigger points in rhomboid muscles.

Clinical trial number: This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrails.gov with registry number NCT04179214.

Keywords: Thoracic vertebrae, Manipulation, Rhomboid major, Rhomboid minor, Myofascial trigger point..