Effects of Single Thoracic Manipulation and Special Massage Technique (RT Technique) on Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain
Condition: Neck Pain
MeSH terms: Neck Pain
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This study aims to compare the immediate effects of using a single thoracic manipulation
      combined with special massage technique (RT technique) and single thoracic manipulation alone
      on pain level at rest, cervical range of motion, upper limb neurodynamic test, neck
      disability, and adverse effects in chronic mechanical neck pain patients.
    

Detailed description: 
      - The subjects will be recruited through posted advertisements, and announcements, to find
      the patients who meet the criteria of mechanical neck pain that is the pain provoked by
      sustained prolonged neck posture, neck movement or palpation of cervical musculature. The
      subjects will be screened by screening questionnaire, and then will be examined by a
      physiotherapist. All subjects will be required to sign an inform consent before participating
      to the study

      - The sample size was calculated by using the averaged of pain level at rest after treatment
      from the single thoracic manipulation combined with special massage group and single thoracic
      manipulation group, after the preliminary procedure that will be conducted with ten subjects
      per each group. After that, the variance was calculated by using the equation σ2 = (n1-1)s12
      + (n2-1)s22/(n1+n2)-2 and the result will be used for calculate the sample size. A drop out
      rate will be set as 20%. The effect size (∆), the significant level of lower than 0.05
      (Zα(0.05) = 1.96) and a power of test at 90 percent (Zβ(0.2)=1.28) was used to calculate in
      the equation as follow: n/group = "2(Zα + Zβ)2σ2" /"∆2"
    

Intervention name(s): Single thoracic manipulation; Special massage technique (RT technique)
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): The subjects, who were randomly allocated to single thoracic manipulation group, will receive the single thoracic manipulation interventions directly to both sides of zygapophyseal joints of T6-T7. Each subject will be asked to lie on prone position on an experimental table. After that, the researcher will mark on both sides of zygapophyseal joints of T6-T7. Then, the subject will be instructed to take a deep inhalation and exhalation. During the exhalation, the therapist will perform the single thoracic manipulation (screw thrust technique) at zygapophyseal joints of T6-T7. If the audio pop is not heard during the first attempt, the therapist will ask the subject to reposition and repeat the technique. The procedure will be performed for maximum of 2 attempts and within 2 minutes.; The special massage technique or RT technique is a treatment that was developed by Puntumetakul and colleagues in 2013 (copyright registration number 314783). The subjects in this group will be asked to lie on side lying position with 90 degrees of hip flexion and 90 degrees of knee flexion. The researcher will perform the RT technique by press their thumb on the treatment lines beside the posterior vertebral line from level of inferior angle of scapula to the lowest rib for 5 seconds per point and 3 sets per treatment line (Figure 8). Total time of this procedure is approximately 2 minutes.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Neck pain, Thoracic manipulation, special massage