Lower thoracic spine extension mobility is associated with higher intensity of thoracic spine pain.
Juhani Määttä, Jani Takatalo, Tero Leinonen and 3 others
PMID 35257630WHAT IT FOUND
In adults with thoracic spine pain, less extension mobility was linked to higher pain scores.
Greater flexion mobility was linked to lower pain. A therapist's visual check of posture matched inclinometer readings well, supporting its use for screening.
Key findings
01Diminished extension of the upper and whole thoracic spine was associated with higher worst pain and pain sum scores.
02Greater flexion mobility of the upper and lower thoracic spine was associated with lower pain sum scores.
03Visual inspection of thoracic posture by a physical therapist correlated strongly with inclinometer measurements.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The sample size was small (73 participants), limiting the precision of the risk estimates. The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot prove that mobility issues cause pain or vice versa. Only the thoracic spine was assessed, ignoring potential compensatory movements in the neck or lower back. Pain was reported for the last week only, which may not reflect long-term patterns. The study did not measure functional disability, only pain intensity.
Declared interests
The work was supported by the Juho Vainio Foundation. The authors declared no other conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that improving thoracic extension will reduce pain. This study shows an association in people with pain, but it does not test whether treatment changes outcomes. The direction of cause is unknown.