Trial reportThe Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy2015
Thoracic Spine Manipulation in Individuals With Subacromial Impingement Syndrome Does Not Immediately Alter Thoracic Spine Kinematics, Thoracic Excursion, or Scapular Kinematics: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Trial report in The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT03109704 (The Immediate Effects of a Seated Versus Supine Upper Thoracic Spine Thrust Manipulation Compared to Sham Manipulation in Individuals With Subacromial Pain Syndrome), which is not on this map. Cited by 20 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
The Immediate Effects of a Seated Versus Supine Upper Thoracic Spine Thrust Manipulation Compared to Sham Manipulation in Individuals With Subacromial Pain Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Who cites it
20 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 47 citations in OpenAlex.
- Systematic review on biomechanical effects of high-velocity, low amplitude spinal manipulation.PloS one · 2025Pooled it
- Is there 'trustworthy' evidence for using manual therapy to treat patients with shoulder dysfunction?: A systematic review.PloS one · 2024Pooled it
- Manual Therapy Effect in Placebo-Controlled Trials: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Pooled it
- Therapeutic Interventions for Scapular Kinematics and Disability in Patients With Subacromial Impingement: A Systematic Review.Journal of athletic training · 2019Pooled it
- Efficacy of Mulligan thoracic sustained natural apophyseal glides on sub-acromial pain in patients with sub-acromial impingement syndrome: a single-blinded randomized controlled trial.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy · 2024Trial
- The effect of manual therapy to the thoracic spine on pain-free grip and sympathetic activity in patients with lateral epicondylalgia humeri. A randomized, sample sized planned, placebo-controlled, patient-blinded monocentric trial.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2020Trial
- The Biomechanical Analysis of Magnitude and Direction of Force by Different Techniques of Thoracic Spinal Manipulation.BioMed research international · 2020Trial
- Thoracic Manual Therapy With or Without Exercise Improves Pain and Disability in Subacromial Pain Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Efficacy of manual therapy on shoulder pain and function in patients with rotator cuff injury: A systematic review and meta‑analysis.Biomedical reports · 2024Article
- Combined Effects of Glenohumeral Mobilization, Stretching, and Thoracic Manipulation on Shoulder Internal Rotation Range of Motion.International journal of sports physical therapy · 2024Article
- Effectiveness of Therapeutical Interventions on the Scapulothoracic Complex in the Management of Patients with Subacromial Impingement and Frozen Shoulder: A Systematic Review.Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology · 2023Review
- Spinal alignment measurement with Kinect sensor is valid for thoracic kyphosis but not for lumbar lordosis.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2023Article
- Current Views of Scapular Dyskinesis and its Possible Clinical Relevance.International journal of sports physical therapy · 2022Article
- Evidence for increased neuromuscular drive following spinal manipulation in individuals with subacromial pain syndrome.Clinical biomechanics (Bristol, Avon) · 2021Article
- Screening of the cervical spine in subacromial shoulder pain: A systematic review.Shoulder & elbow · 2019Review
- Article
- A systematic review of thrust manipulation combined with one conservative intervention for rotator cuff and related non-surgical shoulder conditions.The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association · 2018Article
- A Preliminary Randomized Clinical Trial on the Effect of Cervicothoracic Manipulation Plus Supervised Exercises vs a Home Exercise Program for the Treatment of Shoulder Impingement.Journal of chiropractic medicine · 2017Article
- A systematic review of thrust manipulation for non-surgical shoulder conditions.Chiropractic & manual therapies · 2017Review
- Riding a Tiger: Maximizing Effects of Manual Therapies for Pelvic Pain.Journal of women's health physical therapyArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
STUDY
designRandomized controlled trial.
objectivesTo determine if thoracic spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) alters thoracic kinematics, thoracic excursion, and scapular kinematics compared to a sham SMT in individuals with subacromial impingement syndrome, and also to compare changes in patient-reported outcomes between treatment groups.
backgroundPrior studies indicate that thoracic SMT can improve pain and disability in individuals with subacromial impingment syndrome. However, the mechanisms underlying these benefits are not well understood.
methodsParticipants with shoulder impingement symptoms (n = 52) were randomly assigned to receive a single session of thoracic SMT or sham SMT. Thoracic and scapular kinematics during active arm elevation and overall thoracic excursion were measured before and after the intervention. Patient-reported outcomes measured were pain (numeric pain-rating scale), function (Penn Shoulder Score), and global rating of change.
resultsFollowing the intervention, there were no significant differences in changes between groups for thoracic kinematics or excursion, scapular kinematics, and patient-reported outcomes (P>.05). Both groups showed an increase in scapular internal rotation during arm raising (mean, 0.9°; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.3°, 1.6°; P = .003) and lowering (0.8°; 95% CI: 0.0°, 1.5°; P = .041), as well as improved pain reported on the numeric pain-rating scale (1.2 points; 95% CI: 0.3, 1.8; P<.001) and function on the Penn Shoulder Score (9.1 points; 95% CI: 6.5, 11.7; P<.001).
conclusionThoracic spine extension and excursion did not change significantly following thoracic SMT. There were small but likely not clinically meaningful changes in scapular internal rotation in both groups. Patient-reported pain and function improved in both groups; however, there were no significant differences in the changes between the SMT and the sham SMT groups. Overall, patient-reported outcomes improved in both groups without meaningful changes to thoracic or scapular motion. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapy, level 1b-.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.