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

Abstract

To determine the effects of thoracic spine manipulation on pain pressure sensitivity of rhomboids muscles and thoracic spine mobility. 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. 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). Upper thoracic spine manipulation was found to be more effective in treating interscapular pain and pain pressure threshold of trigger points in rhomboid muscles. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrails.gov with registry number NCT04179214.