Cleland Joshua A, Childs John D, McRae Meghann, Palmer Jessica A, Stowell Thomas
Physical Therapy Program, Franklin Pierce College, 5 Chenell Drive, Concord, NH 03301, USA.
Man Ther. 2005 May;10(2):127-35. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2004.08.005.
Mechanical neck pain is a common occurrence in the general population resulting in a considerable economic burden. Often physical therapists will incorporate manual therapies directed at the cervical spine including joint mobilization and manipulation into the management of patients with cervical pain. Although the effectiveness of mobilization and manipulation of the cervical spine has been well documented, the small inherent risks associated with these techniques has led clinicians to frequently utilize manipulation directed at the thoracic spine in this patient population. It is hypothesized that thoracic spine manipulation may elicit similar therapeutic benefits as cervical spine manipulation while minimizing the magnitude of risk associated with the cervical technique. The purpose of this randomized clinical trial was to investigate the immediate effects of thoracic spine manipulation on perceived pain levels in patients presenting with neck pain. The results suggest that thoracic spine manipulation results in immediate analgesic effects in patients with mechanical neck pain. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of thoracic spine manipulation in patients with neck pain on long-term outcomes including function and disability.
机械性颈痛在普通人群中很常见，会造成相当大的经济负担。物理治疗师通常会将针对颈椎的手法治疗（包括关节松动术和整复术）纳入颈痛患者的管理中。尽管颈椎松动术和整复术的有效性已有充分记录，但这些技术固有的小风险导致临床医生在该患者群体中经常使用针对胸椎的整复术。据推测，胸椎整复术可能会产生与颈椎整复术相似的治疗效果，同时将与颈椎技术相关的风险程度降至最低。这项随机临床试验的目的是研究胸椎整复术对颈痛患者疼痛感知水平的即时影响。结果表明，胸椎整复术对机械性颈痛患者有即时镇痛作用。需要进一步研究以确定胸椎整复术对颈痛患者长期预后（包括功能和残疾情况）的影响。
