The Use of Nonthrust Manipulation in an Adolescent for the Treatment of Thoracic Pain and Rib Dysfunction

Abstract

Case report. Back pain is a common presentation of patients in the orthopedic physical therapy setting. In an athletic environment, back pain can limit an athlete's ability to perform running, cutting, and throwing. This case report describes the use of a spinal nonthrust manipulation in conjunction with therapeutic exercise for the management of thoracic and rib pain in an adolescent athlete. A 16-year-old male presented to the outpatient clinic without physician referral. His chief complaint was right-sided thoracic and rib pain during running, jumping, cutting, and kicking that began 1 month before the initial physical therapy visit. He had no previous episodes of pain or associated injuries. A screening examination for serious underlying pathology was negative. After physical examination, it was determined that manual therapy was indicated. A thoracic nonthrust manipulation was applied to the painful area (the right-side thoracic facet joints of segments 5-7). Immediately after the thoracic nonthrust manipulation, the patient experienced a decrease in tenderness to palpation of the thoracic erector spinae musculature and the associated intercostal spaces of ribs 6 through 8 (a decrease of 1-2 points on the pain scale), an increase in thoracic side-bending active range of motion recorded at T3 and T9, and improved chest expansion, which had been limited by pain before treatment. This case report demonstrates the use of a spinal nonthrust manipulation that seems to have helped an adolescent return to pain-free sports activity, with an immediate decrease in pain after 1 visit. Follow-up telephone calls were made 1 month and 9 months after treatment, in which no return of symptoms was reported.