Thoracic spinal manipulation (TSM) is often used in the treatment of non-specific neck pain, which is a major health problem in the Western society. However, there is insufficient evidence that TSM is more effective in reducing pain and disability than control treatments in patients with non-specific neck pain. Despite the insufficient evidence that TSM is more effective than control treatments, a recent study has shown that TSM has a therapeutic benefit to some patients with neck pain.
The aim of this systematic review was to determine the efficacy of thoracic spine manipulation (TSM) in reducing pain and disability in patients diagnosed with non-specific neck pain. Ten RCTs (677) patients with varying methodological quality were included. Eight studies reported significant reduction in pain and/or disability by TSM but overall, according to the best evidence synthesis, there is insufficient evidence that TSM is more effective than control interventions in reducing pain and disability in patients with non-specific neck pain.
TSM has a therapeutic benefit to some patients with neck pain, when compared to the effect of interventions such as electrotherapy/thermal program, infrared radiation therapy, spinal mobilization and exercises. However, in comparison to cervical spine manipulation, no evidence is found that TSM is more effective in reducing pain and disability. We could therefore conclude that TSM alone or in combination with other interventions is a suitable intervention to use in the treatment of non-specific neck pain.
Read more about spinal manipulation in Physiopedia here, here, here and here