OBJECTIVES: The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate the immediate effects on pain and pressure pain threshold (PPT) of a scapular repositioning technique in patients with acute spasmodic torticollis. METHODS: A randomized, single blind pilot study was conducted. The subjects were 23 individuals (age 20 to 40 years) with a clinical diagnosis of spasmodic torticollis. Visual analog scale pain score, cervical active ranges of motion, and PPT were assessed before and after the intervention. The comparison group was treated with only conventional physiotherapy (microwave diathermy, submaximal isometrics, and ergonomic advice). The intervention group was given scapular repositioning with active cervical rotation technique, in addition to conventional physiotherapy treatment. RESULTS: There were significant improvements in intensity of pain (p < 0.01), cervical rotation to the ipsilateral side (p < 0.01), cervical side flexion to the contralateral side (p < 0.01), and PPT (p < 0.01) immediately after the treatment of the scapular repositioning and conventional therapy compared with the conventional therapy alone. CONCLUSION: The present pilot study demonstrated that scapular repositioning may have an immediate hypoalgesic effect on individuals with spasmodic torticollis in terms of pain severity, PPT, and cervical range of motion. Therefore, further controlled trials are warranted.
Reprinted from the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics with copyright permission from the National University of Health Sciences.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• DOI
• PubMed
• PDF locator
• publisher