Study of the osteopathic correction effectiveness of pectalgic syndrome in students

Abstract

Introduction. Pain in the chest area is characterised by the high prevalence in the population and the complexity of the differential diagnosis of the causes that induce this condition. The treatment of patients with pectalgic syndrome is mainly complex, more focused on drug therapy. At the same time, certain disadvantages of pharmacotherapy (potentially possible side effects, not always fully sufficient effectiveness) determine the relevance of the search for additional non-drug methods of influence. Osteopathic correction can also be one of these methods. From the standpoint of vertebroneurology, the causes of pectalgic syndrome are degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine: at the cervical level the uncovertebral joints blockades have importance, and at the thoracic level — of the costovertebral joints. From an osteopathic point of view, the pain of the anterior chest wall is not limited by the spine pathology. It may be associated with dysfunction of the sternocostal joint, diaphragm, sternum, heart, pleura, liver, gallbladder, as well as disorders of other anatomical formations, including some structures located remotely from the initial localization of the pain syndrome. In students, pectalgic syndrome is not uncommon, and it is associated with certain features of their lifestyle, namely, prolonged static loads. Therefore, the study of possible additional non-drug, including osteopathic, methods for correcting this problem is especially important for this category of the population.The aim of the study is to evaluate the osteopathic correction effectiveness of pectalgic syndrome in students.Materials and methods. The study involved 40 young people, male and female, aged 18 to 22 years, suffering from pectalgic syndrome. Two groups were formed by simple randomization: the main group (20 people who received osteopathic correction) and the control group (20 people who received drug therapy, physiotherapy and exercise therapy). In both groups, at the beginning and at the end of the study, the osteopathic status, the severity of the pain syndrome, and the level of anxiety and depression were assessed.Results. Study participants suffering from pectalgic syndrome were mostly characterized by the presence of regional biomechanical disorders (breast region, structural component — 100 % prevalence; neck region and lumbar region, structural components — prevalence of at least 50 %). Also, the study participants were characterized by a fairly pronounced pain syndrome (about 5–6 points by the 10-point VAS scale), and a subclinical level of anxiety (about 8 points by the HADS). After an osteopathic correction course, the main group participants were characterized by a statistically signifi cant (p<0,05) more pronounced decrease of the detection frequency of regional biomechanical disorders (chest region, structural component), the pain intensity, and the anxiety and depression level.Conclusion. Osteopathic correction resulted in a signifi cant reduction of pain in the anterior chest wall — the main complaint of patients, and it could be associated with the elimination of somatic dysfunctions of the thoracic region. So it is permissible to propose the inclusion of osteopathic correction in the course of treatment of young patients suffering from pectalgic syndrome.