윗등뼈 도수치료가 전방머리자세를 지닌 만성 여성 목통증 환자에게 미치는 영향

Effect of Upper Thoracic Manipulation on women Chronic Neck pain patients with Forward head posture

Objective: This study seeks to establish the benefits of Upper Thoracic Manipulation on chronic neck pain patients with forward head posture by examining positive changes in their degree of neck pain, physical functioning, posture, pulmonary function and chest mobility. Method: 30 women with chronic neck pain patients with forward head posture who were receiving physical therapy in H hospital were divided into a Upper Thoracjc Manipulation Group(TMG) and a Upper Thoracic self Exercise Group(TEG). One group was treated by upper thoracjc manipulation and the other group by upper thoracic self exercise 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Evaluation were made on Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), Neck Dysfunction Index(NDI), Cranio Vertebral Angle(CVA), Pulmonary Function(PF) and Chest Expansion(CE). Repeated measure ANOVA was used to compare the evaluations of results before the experiment, results after 4 weeks, and results after 8 weeks. ANCOVA was used to compare between the groups. Results: In VAS, NDI, CVA, PF and CE both TMG and TEG showed weekly differences(p<.05). TMG showed more reduction in VAS, NDI more increase in CVA, PF and CE. Conclusion: In this study it showed that TMG is more effective than TEG on chronic neck pain patients with forward head posture in VAS, NDI, CVA, PF and CE.