Immediate Effects of Upper Thoracic Manipulation on Skin Surface Temperature of T3 Vertebral Region and Biceps Brachii Muscle

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of the present study was to assess the immediate effects of upper thoracic manipulation on skin surface temperature in the region of the T3 vertebra and biceps brachii muscle in healthy women. It is a randomized controlled blind study. Twenty-six healthy women of the university community were randomly allocated to an experimental group (n = 13) and a placebo group (n = 13). A single session of the upper thoracic spine manipulation (segment T3)was performed. Infrared thermography was used to determine changes in skin surface temperature in the region of T3 and the biceps brachii muscle, which would indirectly reflect sympathetic activity. Images were taken prior to manipulation, immediately after and both five and 10 minutes after manipulation. Repeated measures ANOVA with the post hoc Bonferroni test and the independent samples t-test were used for the intragroup and intergroup comparisons, respectively, with the level of significance set to 5%.

Conditions
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Myofascial Dysfunction

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Spine manipulation
* Other: Manipulation sham


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Healthy women 18 and 30 years of age Exclusion Criteria: use of vasoactive medication body mass index greater than 25 kg/m2 having undergone spinal manipulation in previous month and any red flag sign, such as malignant tumor, inflammatory or infectious disease that contraindicated manual therapy

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 30 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Manipulation<br>The experimental group received upper thoracic manipulation of the T3 vertebra. The volunteer was instructed to lie in the supine position, interlace her fingers and position her hands in the posterior region of the base of the neck. The therapist than positioned a stabilizing hand in a pistol grip immediately caudal to the T3 vertebra, pushing the volunteer's arms downward to generate flexion of the upper thoracic spine. | Other: Spine manipulation<br> <br> |
| Sham Comparator: Sham<br>The placebo group was placed precisely as the experimental group, with the exception of the positioning of the therapist's hand, which remained with the palm open and not in a pistol grip. Once positioned, the volunteers were instructed to breathe deeply. The maneuver was terminated after one cycle of deep breathing. | Other: Manipulation sham<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Skin temperature | Infrared thermography was used to determine changes in skin surface temperature in the region of T3 and the biceps brachii muscle, which would indirectly reflect sympathetic activity. Images were taken prior to manipulation, immediately after and both five and 10 minutes after manipulation. | 1 years | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Manipulation, Spinal, Thermography, Skin Temperature, Physical Therapy Modalities