Paolo Bizzarri1, Luca Buzzatti2, Erik Cattrysse3, Aldo Scafoglieri4. 1. Moto Evoluto - Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, 62012 Civitanova Marche, Macerata, Italy; Department of Clinical Science and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", I-00133 Roma, Italy. 2. Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy (KIMA), Experimental Anatomy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussel, Belgium. Electronic address: Luca.Buzzatti@vub.ac.be. 3. Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy (KIMA), Experimental Anatomy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussel, Belgium. 4. Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy (KIMA), Experimental Anatomy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussel, Belgium; Department of Supporting Clinical Sciences (LABO), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussel, Belgium.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Manual treatments targeting different regions (shoulder, cervical spine, thoracic spine, ribs) have been studied to deal with patients complaining of shoulder pain. Thoracic manual treatments seem able to produce beneficial effects on this group of patients. However, it is not clear whether the patient improvement is a consequence of thoracic manual therapy or a placebo effect. OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy of thoracic manual therapy and placebo thoracic manual treatment for patients with shoulder dysfunction. METHODS: Electronic databases (MEDLINE, CENTRAL, PEDro, CINAHL, WoS, EMBASE, ERIC) were searched through November 2016. Randomized Controlled Trials assessing pain, mobility and function were selected. The Cochrane bias estimation tool was applied. Outcome results were either extracted or computed from raw data. Meta-analysis was performed for outcomes with low heterogeneity. RESULTS: Four studies were included in the review. The methodology of the included studies was generally good except for one study that was rated as high risk of bias. Meta-analysis showed no significant effect for "pain at present" (SMD -0.02; 95% CI: -0.35, 0.32) and "pain during movement" (SMD -0.12; 95% CI: -0.45, 0.21). CONCLUSION: There is very low to low quality of evidence that a single session of thoracic manual therapy is not more effective than a single session of placebo thoracic manual therapy in patients with shoulder dysfunction at immediate post-treatment.
BACKGROUND: Manual treatments targeting different regions (shoulder, cervical spine, thoracic spine, ribs) have been studied to deal with patients complaining of shoulder pain. Thoracic manual treatments seem able to produce beneficial effects on this group of patients. However, it is not clear whether the patient improvement is a consequence of thoracic manual therapy or a placebo effect. OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy of thoracic manual therapy and placebo thoracic manual treatment for patients with shoulder dysfunction. METHODS: Electronic databases (MEDLINE, CENTRAL, PEDro, CINAHL, WoS, EMBASE, ERIC) were searched through November 2016. Randomized Controlled Trials assessing pain, mobility and function were selected. The Cochrane bias estimation tool was applied. Outcome results were either extracted or computed from raw data. Meta-analysis was performed for outcomes with low heterogeneity. RESULTS: Four studies were included in the review. The methodology of the included studies was generally good except for one study that was rated as high risk of bias. Meta-analysis showed no significant effect for "pain at present" (SMD -0.02; 95% CI: -0.35, 0.32) and "pain during movement" (SMD -0.12; 95% CI: -0.45, 0.21). CONCLUSION: There is very low to low quality of evidence that a single session of thoracic manual therapy is not more effective than a single session of placebo thoracic manual therapy in patients with shoulder dysfunction at immediate post-treatment.