Pain and Disability Reduction Following Rib Manipulation in a Patient Recovering from Osteomyelitis of the Thoracic Spine
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Detailed Case Presentation
2.1. Differential Diagnosis
2.2. Treatment
2.3. Outcomes and Follow-Up
3. Discussion
4. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Description | |
---|---|
Medical history | Osteomyelitis Osteoarthritis Sacroiliac joint pain Hypertension |
Surgical history | Multiple root canals |
Medications | OxyContin (20 mg) prn for pain Norvasc (5 mg) 1 time daily Ceftriaxone (1–2 g) IV once daily Daptomycin (4 mg/kg) IV every 24 h for 7 days |
Symptom Location | Pain Description | Aggravating Factor | Easing Factor |
---|---|---|---|
Upper and middle thoracic spine (T2–T9) | NPRS severity: 8 Irritability: mild Stage: sub-acute Stability: worsening | Standing > 15 min Sleeping in supine Walking > 30 min Donning and doffing clothing | Sitting with exaggerated thoracic flexion Side-lying position |
Cervical Spine | AROM | PROM | Strength |
---|---|---|---|
Flexion | 80° | 86° | 4/5 |
Extension | 72° | 75° | 4/5 |
Right side-bending | 40° | 44° | 4/5 |
Left side-bending | 42° | 46° | 4/5 |
Right rotation | 85° | 88° | 4/5 |
Left rotation | 80° | 84° | 4/5 |
Thoracic Spine | AROM | PROM | Strength |
Flexion | 60° | 66° | 2/5 |
Extension | 5° | 7° | 2/5 |
Right side-bending | 18° | 22° | 2/5 |
Left side-bending | 17° | 20° | 2/5 |
Right rotation | 12° | 15° | 2/5 |
Left rotation | 16° | 20° | 2/5 |
Test | Description | Positive Test Result |
---|---|---|
Slump test [29] | The patient flexes the spine and shoulders while the examiner holds the chin and head erect. The patient is asked whether any symptoms are produced. If no symptoms are produced, the examiner flexes the patient’s neck and holds the head down with shoulders slumped to see whether symptoms are produced. If no symptoms are produced, the examiner passively extends one of the patient’s knees to see whether symptoms are produced. If no symptoms are produced, the examiner then passively dorsiflexes the foot of the same leg to see if symptoms are produced. | Reproduction of the patient’s symptoms indicates a positive test, implicating neural tension |
Passive neck flexion test [30] | The patient actively performs an upper cervical nod. The examiner passively flexes the lower cervical spine. | A reproduction of pain or other neural symptoms in the thoracic spine is a positive test result |
Adam’s forward bending test [31] | The patient needs to bend forward, starting at the waist until the back comes in the horizontal plane, with the feet together, arms hanging, and the knees in extension. The palms are held together. | An asymmetry is observed on one side |
Reflex hammer test [29] | The patient is seated, and the examiner taps over each spinous process to see whether pain or muscle spasm is provoked. | If pain or muscle spasm is provoked, a fracture is possible |
Thoracic Movement | AROM | Pain Location | NPRS |
---|---|---|---|
Flexion | 60° | Central, T2 | 2/10 |
Extension | 5° | Central, T5–T9 | 8/10 |
Right side-bending | 18° | Right unilateral, T5–T9 | 6/10 |
Left side-bending | 17° | Left unilateral, T5–T9 | 6/10 |
Right rotation | 12° | Right unilateral, T2–T9 | 4/10 |
Left rotation | 16° | Left unilateral, T2–T9 | 4/10 |
Visit | Treatment Plan |
---|---|
1–4 | Mobility: Thoracic extension, side-bending, and rotation AROM in sitting position, side-lying rotational AROM, doorway stretch Motor control: Scapular squeezes in sitting position Manual therapy: Grades 1–4 central and unilateral PA mobilizations to reduce pain at levels T2–T9; STM to thoracic paraspinals to reduce muscle tightness; pectoralis minor STM to reduce muscle tightness |
5–8 | Mobility: Continued mobility from visits 1–4 with progressions of ½ foam roll extensions over chair with arms crossed; begin quadruped unilateral rotation exercises; downward dog; tabletop stress with physioball Motor control: Continued exercises from visits 1–4; progressed to serratus anterior strengthening, and resistance exercises targeting scapular stabilizers Manual therapy: Grades 3–4 central and unilateral PA mobilizations at levels T2–T9 to improve thoracic mobility; mobilization with movement for thoracic rotation, side-bending, and rotation; thoracic manipulation to T5–T7 |
9–12 | Mobility: AROM exercises from sessions 1–4 discharged to HEP; progressed to quadruped rotation AROM Motor control: Scapular stabilization including resistance bands and dumbbells Manual therapy: Continued techniques from visits 5–8; initiation of costotransverse joint manipulation bilaterally from T2 to T7 |
13–16 | Mobility: Discharged to patient’s HEP Motor control: Scapular stabilization including resistance bands and dumbbells until failure; functional activities including farmers carries, crate carries, and sled pushing and pulling Manual therapy: Costotransverse joint manipulation bilaterally from T2 to T7 |
Assessment | NPRS | NDI | PSFS |
---|---|---|---|
Initial evaluation | 8/10 | 46/50 | 3/30 |
Re-evaluation (Week 4) | 6/10 | 34/50 | 9/30 |
Discharge (Week 8) | 1/10 | 22/50 | 21/30 |
Cervical Spine (Re-Evaluation) | AROM | PROM | Strength |
---|---|---|---|
Flexion | 88° | 90° | 4/5 |
Extension | 74° | 81° | 4/5 |
Right side-bending | 45° | 49° | 4/5 |
Left side-bending | 46° | 50° | 4/5 |
Right rotation | 86° | 88° | 4-/5 |
Left rotation | 85° | 86° | 4-/5 |
Thoracic Spine (Re-Evaluation) | AROM | PROM | Strength |
Flexion | WFL | WFL | 2+/5 |
Extension | 11° | 15° | 2+/5 |
Right side-bending | 22° | 25° | 2+/5 |
Left side-bending | 25° | 27° | 2+/5 |
Right rotation | 20° | 23° | 2+/5 |
Left rotation | 20° | 22° | 2+/5 |
Cervical Spine (Discharge) | |||
Flexion | WFL | WFL | 4+/5 |
Extension | WFL | WFL | 4+/5 |
Right side-bending | WFL | WFL | 4+/5 |
Left side-bending | WFL | WFL | 4+/5 |
Right rotation | WFL | WFL | 4/5 |
Left rotation | WFL | WFL | 4/5 |
Thoracic Spine (Discharge) | |||
Flexion | WFL | WFL | 4/5 |
Extension | 35° | 40° | 3+/5 |
Right side-bending | 40° | 46° | 3+/5 |
Left side-bending | 35° | 39° | 3+/5 |
Right rotation | 50° | 55° | 3+/5 |
Left rotation | 45° | 50° | 3+/5 |
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Prall, J.; Dunning, J.; Young, I.; Ross, M.; Escaloni, J.; Bliton, P. Pain and Disability Reduction Following Rib Manipulation in a Patient Recovering from Osteomyelitis of the Thoracic Spine. Healthcare 2025, 13, 1355. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13121355
Prall J, Dunning J, Young I, Ross M, Escaloni J, Bliton P. Pain and Disability Reduction Following Rib Manipulation in a Patient Recovering from Osteomyelitis of the Thoracic Spine. Healthcare. 2025; 13(12):1355. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13121355
Chicago/Turabian StylePrall, Joshua, James Dunning, Ian Young, Michael Ross, James Escaloni, and Paul Bliton. 2025. "Pain and Disability Reduction Following Rib Manipulation in a Patient Recovering from Osteomyelitis of the Thoracic Spine" Healthcare 13, no. 12: 1355. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13121355
APA StylePrall, J., Dunning, J., Young, I., Ross, M., Escaloni, J., & Bliton, P. (2025). Pain and Disability Reduction Following Rib Manipulation in a Patient Recovering from Osteomyelitis of the Thoracic Spine. Healthcare, 13(12), 1355. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13121355