Influence of thoracic flexion syndrome on proprioception in the thoracic spine

This study was undertaken to determine the difference in thoracic repositioning sense in young people with and without thoracic flexion syndrome (TFS) in target positions of half extension. People with TFS (n = 15; 7 men and 8 women) and people without TFS (n = 15; 7 men and 8 women) were recruited from three universities. Subjects were guided into a sitting extension target posture and were asked to move from a neutral position (2 s) to an extension target position (2 s); 10 trials were performed. People with TFS showed a significantly higher thoracic repositioning error in the extension target position than people without TFS.

People with TFS exhibit a higher thoracic spine repositioning error in extension than people without TFS. A rehabilitation program to treat TFS should be implemented for individuals with impaired position sense of the thoracic spine.