The efficacy of spinal manipulative therapy in the treatment of mechanical neck pain

Abstract

There have been few substantiated studies done to investigate the efficacy of spinal manipulative therapy for cervical syndromes [Vernon et.al. (1990: 13), Sloop et.al. (1982: 532) and Cassidy 1\ et. al. (1992: 495)]. Therefore, more conclusive evidence is needed to verify the success of manipulation, especially in terms of chiropractic treatment methods. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate cervical spine manipulation and combined cervical and thoracic spine manipulation, according to subjective and objective clinical findings, in order to determine the efficacy of each approach in the management of mechanical neck pain. It was hypothesized that cervical spine manipulation, and combined cervical and thoracic spine manipulation would both be effective in the treatment of mechanical neck pain. However, it was proposed that combined cervical and thoracic spine manipulation would be more effective than just cervical spine manipulation, in terms of subjective and objective clinical findings. This study consisted of a controlled trial of a sample population diagnosed with joint dysfunction (cervical and thoracic facet syndrome) . Thirty subjects were randomly divided into two groups: the control group and the experimental group. The control group was treated with cervical adjustments only and the experimental group received combined cervical and thoracic adjusfments.