Changes in pulmonary function following thoracic spine manipulation in a healthy inactive older adult population-a pilot study

Authors

Holly Jonely, The School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Physical Therapy & Health Care Sciences, The George Washington University: 2000 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 2000, Washington, DC 20006, USA.
Dhinu Jayaseelan, The School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Physical Therapy & Health Care Sciences, The George Washington University: 2000 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 2000, Washington, DC 20006, USA.
Ellen Costello, The School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Physical Therapy & Health Care Sciences, The George Washington University: 2000 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 2000, Washington, DC 20006, USA.
Joseph Signorino, The School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Physical Therapy & Health Care Sciences, The George Washington University: 2000 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 2000, Washington, DC 20006, USA.
Liana Wooten, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Tufts University, USA.
Donal Murray, The School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Physical Therapy & Health Care Sciences, The George Washington University: 2000 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 2000, Washington, DC 20006, USA.
Josh Woolstenhulme, The School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Physical Therapy & Health Care Sciences, The George Washington University: 2000 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 2000, Washington, DC 20006, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

7-1-2023

Journal

Journal of physical therapy science

Volume

35

Issue

7

DOI

10.1589/jpts.35.492

Keywords

Physical therapy; Pulmonary function; Spinal-manipulation

Abstract

[Purpose] Pulmonary function pathology is primarily treated pharmacologically, with a range of medication side effects. Few studies have systematically examined non-pharmacologic approaches such as joint manipulation effects on pulmonary function. This study examined the immediate and short-term effects of thoracic manipulation on pulmonary function. [Participants and Methods] Twenty-one physically inactive otherwise healthy participants aged 50 years or older were randomly assigned to either receive three sessions of thoracic manipulation (n=10) or three sessions of "sham intercostal training" (n=11). Outcome measures included forced vital capacity, maximal voluntary ventilation and thoracic excursion during maximal inhalation and exhalation. [Results] There was a statistically significant difference in maximal voluntary ventilation in the manipulation group, when measured within a week of the third intervention session and immediate effects in thoracic excursion during exhalation in the sham group following a single intervention session. There were no significant changes in other measures. [Conclusion] Spinal manipulation had no immediate effect on pulmonary function, however, affected an improvement in maximal voluntary ventilation within 7 days following a third session. The sham intervention showed a change in thoracic excursion during exhalation after the first session. Future research is necessary to further explore the relationship between thoracic manipulation and pulmonary function.

APA Citation

Jonely, Holly; Jayaseelan, Dhinu; Costello, Ellen; Signorino, Joseph; Wooten, Liana; Murray, Donal; and Woolstenhulme, Josh, "Changes in pulmonary function following thoracic spine manipulation in a healthy inactive older adult population-a pilot study" (2023). GW Authored Works. Paper 3139.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/3139

Department

Health, Human Function, and Rehabilitation Sciences