Narrow Results

Background: Vertebrae are linked together with facet and intervertebral joints. The application of a force to a spinal segment therefore impact adjacent areas of the spine. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the posteroanterior (PA) displacement of the thoracocervical spine during the application of thoracic PA mobilization. Methods: Forty-one healthy males were recruited. The participants were asked to lie prone and hold their breath at the end of normal expiration while a therapist applied a grade III of central PA mobilization to the T₆ spinous process for 30s. The PA spinal displacements of C₃, C₅, C₇, T₂, T₄ and T₆ were investigated using a motion capture system. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used to analyze the PA spinal displacement and correlation between PA spinal displacement at T₆ and the PA displacement of the thoracocervical spines, respectively. Results: The PA displacement of the T₆ and the PA displacement of the marked spines (T₄, T₁, C₇, C₅ and C₃) correlated well with $r$ being 0.83, 0.69, 0.63, 0.63 and 0.54 ($p<0.01$), respectively. A trend toward a decrease in spinal displacement was noted when the distance from T₆ spine increased. It showed that the mobilization force could be transferred from the local area to an adjacent area. Conclusions: These findings may provide plausible evidence that can explain the mechanism of how thoracic spinal manipulative therapy affects neck pain reduction.