Immediate Effects of Different Rates of Thoracic Mobilization on Pressure Pain Thresholds in Asymptomatic Individuals

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Passive mobilizations of the spine are widely used by physiotherapists in the management of neuromusculoskeletal disorders. There is a nascent body of work of the mechanical properties of joint mobilizations. Treatment dose is characterized by the direction of force applied, magnitude of force applied, frequency of oscillation, amplitude of displacement, repetition and time. Although the choice of better treatment dose is based on patient complaints and clinical reasoning, the comprehension of the effects of different parameters of joint mobilization will improve the decision making process. The optimal dose of treatment, however, is not already known. The primary aim of this study is to determine whether different rates of thoracic mobilization are capable to produces hypoalgesic effects, and secondarily investigate if such effects are local or widespread.

Detailed Description
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Healthy volunteers will be recruited and randomized into 3 groups. A 2Hz mobilisation group, a 0,5Hz mobilisation group and a Placebo group. The pressure pain threshold will be measured before, immediately after and 15 minutes after the intervention.

Official Title
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A Preliminary Investigation Into the Immediate Effects of Different Rates of Thoracic Mobilization on Pressure Pain Thresholds in Asymptomatic Individuals

Conditions
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Spine Stiffness

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: 2Hz mobilisation
* Other: 0,5Hz mobilisation
* Other: Placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Healthy asymptomatic subjects Manual therapy naive Exclusion Criteria: Any kind of history of trauma or surgery to the spine Contraindications or precautions to manual therapy

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 40 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

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: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: 2Hz mobilisation<br>A bilateral postero-anterior mobilisation applied to the fourth thoracic vertebra, at a 2Hz frequency. | Other: 2Hz mobilisation<br>* This intervention will be applied for 3 sets of 1 minute, with 1 minute rest period in between each set.<br>* Other names: Bilateral postero-anterior thoracic mobilisation;|
| Experimental: 0,5Hz mobilisation<br>A bilateral postero-anterior mobilisation applied to the fourth thoracic vertebra, at a 0,5Hz frequency. | Other: 0,5Hz mobilisation<br>* This intervention will be applied for 3 sets of 1 minute, with 1 minute rest period in between each set.<br>* Other names: Bilateral postero-anterior thoracic mobilisation;|
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo<br>A simulation technique, that mimic the other groups, in this case only manual contact will be applied, without any oscillation. | Other: Placebo<br>* Intervention that mimics the experimental procedures<br>* Other names: Manual contact without oscillation;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pressure pain threshold | Pressure pain threshold will be measured in five anatomic points on the spine, upper and lower limbs | Change from baseline imediately after, and 15 minutes after the intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Spinal mobilisation, Pressure pain threshold, Thoracic spine