Management of non-specific thoracic spine pain: a cross-sectional study among physiotherapists
Abstract Background The thoracic area has mainly been neglected in research compared to the lumbar and cervical regions. No clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for non-specific thoracic spine pain (TSP) have been compiled. Therefore, it can be argued that the absence of specific CPGs raises question...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-05-01
|
| Series: | BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-023-06505-8 |
| _version_ | 1797811988179451904 |
|---|---|
| author | Marco Risetti Riccardo Gambugini Marco Testa Simone Battista |
| author_facet | Marco Risetti Riccardo Gambugini Marco Testa Simone Battista |
| author_sort | Marco Risetti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The thoracic area has mainly been neglected in research compared to the lumbar and cervical regions. No clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for non-specific thoracic spine pain (TSP) have been compiled. Therefore, it can be argued that the absence of specific CPGs raises questions about the management of non-specific TSP. Hence, this study aimed at determining the management of non-specific TSP among physiotherapists in Italy. Methods A web cross-sectional survey investigating physiotherapists’ management of non-specific TSP was conducted. The survey instrument was divided into three sections. The first section obtained participants’ characteristics. The second section determined participants’ agreement with 29 statements regarding the clinical management of non-specific TSP utilising a five-point Likert scale. Participants who partially or completely agreed (scores 4–5) were considered to agree with the statements. A ≥ 70% of agreement with a statement was considered as consensus according to previous literature. The third section asked the participants to indicate how often they adopted several treatments to manage non-specific TSP with a 5-point scale (always – often – sometimes – rarely - never). The frequencies of answers were calculated, and a visual representation through a bar chart was reported. The online version of the survey instrument was delivered through the newsletter of the Italian Association of Physiotherapists and the postgraduate master’s degree in Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation of the University of Genova (Genova, Italy). Results In total, 424 physiotherapists (mean age (SD): 35.1 years (10.5); 50% women) completed the survey. In the second section, physiotherapists achieved consensus for 22/29 statements. Those statements addressed the importance of psychosocial factors, exercise, education, and manual therapy techniques in managing non-specific TSP. In the third section, 79.7% of participants indicated they would always adopt a multimodal treatment (education, therapeutic exercise, manual therapy), followed by education and information (72.9%), therapeutic exercise (62.0%), soft tissue manual therapy (27.1%), and manual therapy (16.5%). Conclusions Study participants considered fundamentally using a multimodal programme based on education, exercise and manual therapy to manage non-specific TSP. This approach aligns with the CPGs for other chronic musculoskeletal pain than non-specific TSP. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:31:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c3a7b268757f43c08f945f2eff856f00 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2474 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:31:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-c3a7b268757f43c08f945f2eff856f002023-06-04T11:04:19ZengBMCBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders1471-24742023-05-0124111010.1186/s12891-023-06505-8Management of non-specific thoracic spine pain: a cross-sectional study among physiotherapistsMarco Risetti0Riccardo Gambugini1Marco Testa2Simone Battista3Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of GenovaDepartment of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of GenovaDepartment of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of GenovaDepartment of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of GenovaAbstract Background The thoracic area has mainly been neglected in research compared to the lumbar and cervical regions. No clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for non-specific thoracic spine pain (TSP) have been compiled. Therefore, it can be argued that the absence of specific CPGs raises questions about the management of non-specific TSP. Hence, this study aimed at determining the management of non-specific TSP among physiotherapists in Italy. Methods A web cross-sectional survey investigating physiotherapists’ management of non-specific TSP was conducted. The survey instrument was divided into three sections. The first section obtained participants’ characteristics. The second section determined participants’ agreement with 29 statements regarding the clinical management of non-specific TSP utilising a five-point Likert scale. Participants who partially or completely agreed (scores 4–5) were considered to agree with the statements. A ≥ 70% of agreement with a statement was considered as consensus according to previous literature. The third section asked the participants to indicate how often they adopted several treatments to manage non-specific TSP with a 5-point scale (always – often – sometimes – rarely - never). The frequencies of answers were calculated, and a visual representation through a bar chart was reported. The online version of the survey instrument was delivered through the newsletter of the Italian Association of Physiotherapists and the postgraduate master’s degree in Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation of the University of Genova (Genova, Italy). Results In total, 424 physiotherapists (mean age (SD): 35.1 years (10.5); 50% women) completed the survey. In the second section, physiotherapists achieved consensus for 22/29 statements. Those statements addressed the importance of psychosocial factors, exercise, education, and manual therapy techniques in managing non-specific TSP. In the third section, 79.7% of participants indicated they would always adopt a multimodal treatment (education, therapeutic exercise, manual therapy), followed by education and information (72.9%), therapeutic exercise (62.0%), soft tissue manual therapy (27.1%), and manual therapy (16.5%). Conclusions Study participants considered fundamentally using a multimodal programme based on education, exercise and manual therapy to manage non-specific TSP. This approach aligns with the CPGs for other chronic musculoskeletal pain than non-specific TSP.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-023-06505-8Physical therapy modalitiesPhysical Therapy SpecialtyMusculoskeletal PainPractice guidelines as topicEducationPublic Health Professional |
| spellingShingle | Marco Risetti Riccardo Gambugini Marco Testa Simone Battista Management of non-specific thoracic spine pain: a cross-sectional study among physiotherapists BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders Physical therapy modalities Physical Therapy Specialty Musculoskeletal Pain Practice guidelines as topic Education Public Health Professional |
| title | Management of non-specific thoracic spine pain: a cross-sectional study among physiotherapists |
| title_full | Management of non-specific thoracic spine pain: a cross-sectional study among physiotherapists |
| title_fullStr | Management of non-specific thoracic spine pain: a cross-sectional study among physiotherapists |
| title_full_unstemmed | Management of non-specific thoracic spine pain: a cross-sectional study among physiotherapists |
| title_short | Management of non-specific thoracic spine pain: a cross-sectional study among physiotherapists |
| title_sort | management of non specific thoracic spine pain a cross sectional study among physiotherapists |
| topic | Physical therapy modalities Physical Therapy Specialty Musculoskeletal Pain Practice guidelines as topic Education Public Health Professional |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-023-06505-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marcorisetti managementofnonspecificthoracicspinepainacrosssectionalstudyamongphysiotherapists AT riccardogambugini managementofnonspecificthoracicspinepainacrosssectionalstudyamongphysiotherapists AT marcotesta managementofnonspecificthoracicspinepainacrosssectionalstudyamongphysiotherapists AT simonebattista managementofnonspecificthoracicspinepainacrosssectionalstudyamongphysiotherapists |