Perry Physical Therapy, PLLC, Trillium Wellness Center, Potsdam, NY, USA.
Department of Physical Therapy, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA.
Physiother Theory Pract. 2022 Nov;38(13):3255-3263. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2021.1987603. Epub 2021 Oct 10.
Case Report.
Thoracic spine pain and movement dysfunction is a relatively common problem in the general population but has received little attention in research. Dry needling is frequently utilized by physical therapists and has been shown to reduce pain and improve function in areas, such as the cervical and lumbar spine, shoulder, hip, and knee. However, little research has been performed on the use of dry needling in the thoracic area with only two prior case studies being published. This case report documents the use of dry needling and manual therapy to treat a patient with symptoms of thoracic spine pain with concurrent pseudovisceral symptoms of chest pain and difficulty breathing.
The patient was a 78-year-old female who was referred to physical therapy with complaints of pain focused in her mid-thoracic spine radiating anteriorly into her chest. The patient underwent medical diagnostic tests prior to her referral to physical therapy to rule out cardiac pathology, pulmonary pathology, and fracture. She was treated with dry needling and manual therapy for a total of four sessions over a two-week period.
Fifteen days after her initial evaluation, the patient reported she was pain-free with a pain score of 0/10 on the VAS. She reported she was no longer taking pain medication or NSAIDS. She was able to return to normal daily activities without restriction and normal sleep pattern. Her score on the Oswestry disability index at intake was 42% impairment and 2% impairment after 4 treatments. At follow-up 6 weeks and 12 weeks after her discharge from physical therapy, the patient reported she continued to be pain-free.
病例报告。
胸脊柱疼痛和运动功能障碍在普通人群中较为常见，但在研究中却很少受到关注。物理治疗师经常使用干针疗法，并且已经证明其可以减轻颈、腰脊柱、肩部、臀部和膝关节等部位的疼痛并改善功能。然而，在胸区使用干针疗法的研究很少，仅有两项先前的病例研究发表。本病例报告记录了使用干针疗法和手法治疗治疗一名胸脊柱疼痛伴有胸痛和呼吸困难等假性内脏症状的患者。
患者为 78 岁女性，因胸中部疼痛向前放射至胸部而被转诊至物理治疗。在转至物理治疗之前，患者接受了医疗诊断测试以排除心脏病理学、肺部病理学和骨折。她接受了干针疗法和手法治疗，共进行了四次治疗，为期两周。
在初次评估后的第 15 天，患者报告疼痛完全消失，VAS 评分为 0/10。她表示不再服用止痛药或 NSAIDs。她能够恢复正常的日常活动而不受限制，并且睡眠模式正常。她在接受治疗前的 Oswestry 残疾指数评分为 42%，接受 4 次治疗后的评分为 2%。在 6 周和 12 周的随访中，患者报告疼痛继续完全消失。
