A Correlation Study on Pain, Range of Motion of Neck, Neck Disability Index and Grip Strength after Thoracic Manipulation and Cervical Stabilization Training in Chronic Neck Pain

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among pain, range of motion of the neck, neck disability index and grip strength after thoracic manipulation and cervical stabilization training in patients with chronic neck pain. METHODS: In this study, twelve subjects with chronic neck pain were included. All participants had thoracic manipulation and cervical stabilization training. Intervention was conducted three times per a week, for 4 weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS), range of motion of neck, neck disability index (NDI), as well as the grip strength before and after intervention were measured in all participants. Paired ttest was used to compare variables before and after intervention. Pearson correlation analysis was used to identify the correlations between the variables. RESULTS: All variables after the intervention were significantly improved. There was a significant negative correlation between VAS and flexion angle of the neck (r=−0.669, p<0.05). Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between NDI and VAS (r=0.636, p<0.05), and a significant negative correlation between NDI and flexion angle of the neck (r=−0.692, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with reduced pain following therapeutic intervention illustrated that there would be an improvement in the flexion angle rather than the extension angle of the neck, and that those with increased flexion angle would have less restriction of activities in daily living.

Influência das técnicas de terapia manual osteopática na função respiratória / Influence of osteopathic manual therapy techniques in the respiratory function

As técnicas de terapia manual são consideradas como um método sistemático de avaliação e tratamento das disfunções do sistema neuromusculoesquelético, e estas têm como finalidade principal recuperar o movimento fisiológico em áreas onde existe restrição ou disfunção melhorando a função dos sistemas adjacentes. Contudo, na literatura são escassos os estudos sobre a utilização e eficácia destas técnicas, seja manipulativa ou de mobilização, na função respiratória, principalmente como uma forma preventiva de tratamento. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as alterações nas funções pulmonares e na expansibilidade torácica em indivíduos normais submetidos às técnicas osteopáticas. Este estudo foi caracterizado como quase experimental. Fizeram parte da amostra 30 voluntárias, com idade de 18 à 28 anos, sem patologias pulmonares conhecidas associadas. A avaliação da função pulmonar e expansibilidade torácica foram por meio da espirometria e cirtometria respectivamente. A amostra recebeu procedimento de intervenção sendo avaliada em dois momentos, antes e após a aplicação de uma manobra osteopática de manipulação (thrust) em coluna torácica e técnica de músculo energia para peitorais. Os resultados indicam que o protocolo foi capaz de aumentar a mobilidade torácica em todos os parâmetros avaliados, e na função pulmonar houve melhora estatisticamente significativa no pico de fluxo expiratório.

Manual therapy techniques are considered to be a systematic method of assessment and treatment of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system, and are intended to recover the main physiological movement in areas where there is restriction or dysfunction, by improving the function of adjacent systems. However, in literature, there are few studies on the use and effectiveness of such techniques, whether by manipulative or mobilization techniques, in respiratory function, especially as preventive treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in lung function and chest expansion in normal individuals subjected to osteopathic techniques. This study was characterized as quasi-experimental. The sample consisted of 30 volunteers, aged 18 to 28 years, without known lung diseases associated. The evaluation of lung function and chest expansion were calculated using spirometry and circumference measurements, respectively. The sample received intervention procedure and was evaluated in two phases, before and after applying a move osteopathic manipulation (thrust) in the thoracic spine and the muscle energy technique for pectoral muscles. The results indicate that the protocol was able to increase thoracic mobility in all parameters, and lung function was statistically significantly improvement in peak expiratory flow.