Effect of upper thoracic mobilization on cervical alignment in stroke patients with forward head posture: A case study

• Published in: Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 1513 - 1516
• Main Authors: Park, Sin Jun, Park, Si Eun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 국제물리치료연구학회 30.06.2018
• Subjects: 물리치료학
• ISSN: 2092-8475; 2714-0148
• DOI: 10.20540/JIAPTR.2018.9.2.1513

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of upper thoracic mobilization on cervical alignment in stroke patients with forward head posture. The subject's of this study were two stroke patients with forward head posture and a cervical curve angle (four-line Cobb's method; FLCM) less than 40°. The intervention, central posterior-anterior (PA) mobilization, was applied to the T1-T4 vertebrae (upper thoracic spine) following the Maitland concept. This mobilization was applied three times per week for four weeks. In the results, the cervical curve angle (FLCM) increased for both subject 1 and 2. However, Jochumsen method score was decreased in subject 1, while it was increased in subject 2. These results demonstrate that upper thoracic mobilization had the positive effect on the cervical curve angle but not on Jochumsen method score. These findings suggest that PA mobilization on the upper thoracic spine could correct cervical curve angle measured by FLMC in stroke patients with FHP. KCI Citation Count: 1