Background: Thoracic spine self-mobilization exercise is commonly used to manage patients with neck pain. However, no previous studies have investigated the effects of thoracic spine self-mobilization exercise alone in patients with chronic neck pain.
Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of thoracic self-mobilization using a tool on cervical ROM, disability level, upper body posture, pain and FABQ in patients with chronic neck pain.
Methods: The subjects were 49 patients (21 males, 28 females) with chronic neck pain. The subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group (EG, n=23) and control group (CG, n=26). For the EG, thoracic self-mobilization was applied. We placed a tool (made with 2 tennis balls) under 3 different vertebral levels(T1-4, T5-8, T9-12) of the thoracic spine and the subjects performed crunches, which included thoracic flexion and extension in supine position. 5 times x 3 sets for each levels, twice a week, for 4 weeks. Cervical pain, disability, upper body posture, fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ) results, and range of motion (ROM) were evaluated at baseline, after 4 weeks of intervention, and at 8 weeks of follow-up. Assessments included the quadruple visual analog scale (QVAS) for the level of pain; Northwick Park neck pain questionnaire (NPQ) for the functional disability level; craniovertebral angles (CVA), forward shoulder angle (FSA) and kyphosis angle (KA) measurements for upper body posture; FABQ and cervical ROM testing.
Results: The EG showed a statistically significant improvement after intervention in the QVAS; NPQ; flexion, extension, left rotation, and right rotation in the ROM of the cervical joint; KA; CVA; and FSA.
Conclusion: These results suggest that, for patients with chronic neck pain, thoracic self-mobilization exercise using a tool (tennis balls) is effective to improve neck pain, disability level, the ROM, and upper body posture.