A Comparison Between the Effects of Scapulothoracic Mobilization Plus Physical Therapy With Physical Therapy Alone in Patients With Mechanical Neck Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Effects of scapular treatment on chronic neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Chronic neck pain (CNP) is a common public health problem that affects daily living activities and quality of life. There is biomechanical interdependence between the neck and scapula. Studies have shown that shoulder blade function might be related to chronic neck pain. We therefore evaluated the effects of scapular targeted therapy on neck pain and function in patients with CNP.

METHODS

Databases, including MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE (via Ovid), Ovid, Web of Science, and Scopus, were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials published in English investigating treatment of the scapula for CNP before July 16, 2023.

RESULTS

A total of 313 participants were included from 8 RCTs. Compared with those in the control group, the intervention in the scapular treatment group exhibited greater improvement in pain intensity (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 2.55; 95% CI = 0.97 to 4.13; P = 0.002), with moderate evidence. Subgroup analysis for pain intensity revealed a significant difference between the sexes, with only the female population (SMD = 6.23, 95% CI = 4.80 to 7.65) showing better outcomes than those with both sexes (SMD = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.57 to 1.56) (p < 0.00001). However, moderate evidence demonstrated no improvement in neck disability after scapular treatment (SMD of 0.24[-0.14, 0.62] of Neck Disability Index or Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire). No effect of scapular treatment was shown on the pressure pain threshold (PPT). The cervical range of motion (CROM) and electromyographic activity of neck muscles could not be conclusively evaluated due to limited support in the articles, and further study was needed. However, the patient's head forward posture appeared to be corrected after scapular treatment.

CONCLUSION

Scapular therapy was beneficial for relieving pain intensity in patients with CNP, especially in women. Head forward posture might also be corrected with scapular therapy. However, scapular therapy may have no effect on the PPT or neck disability. However, whether scapular therapy could improve CROM and cervical muscle activation in patients with CNPs had not been determined and needed further study.

Bibliometric Analysis of Research Trends on Tuina Manipulation for Neck Pain Treatment Over the Past 10 Years

Tuina is an effective treatment for neck pain (NP). However, there has been no bibliometric analysis of the global application and emerging trends of tuina performed for NP. Therefore, this study aimed to provide an overview of the current state and future trends in the field. Articles about tuina for NP, published from January 1, 2013, to January 1, 2023, were searched in the Web of Science Core Collection database. CiteSpace (6.1.R6) and VOSviewer (1.6.18) software were used to analyze annual trends in literature posts, countries, institutions, authors, cited references, and knowledge graphs of keyword co-occurrence, clustering, and burst using standard bibliometric indicators. The final analysis comprised 505 valid documents. The results demonstrate that the number of articles in the field of tuina therapy for NP has gradually increased over the years, showing the most active countries, institutions, journals, and authors. There were 323 keywords in the field, 322 research authors, and 292 research institutions, with the USA having the most publications (n = 140). The most published institution is Vrije University Amsterdam, and the most published journal is the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Peter R Blanpied is the most influential and most-cited author. Interventions (dry needling, massage therapy, and muscle energy techniques), common treatment sites for NP (upper trapezius), and complications (cervicogenic headache) are the top three frontiers mentioned in the field of tuina research for NP. The bibliometric study showed the current status and trends in clinical research on treating patients with NP using tuina, which may help researchers identify topics of interest and scope for future research in this field.

Scapulothoracic Dyskinesis: A Concept Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Scapulothoracic dyskinesis (SD) occurs when there is a noticeable disruption in typical position and motion of the scapula, which can result in debilitating pain. The purpose of this review is to describe the current knowledge regarding the diagnosis and management of scapulothoracic dyskinesis by providing an evidence-based overview of clinical exams and treatment modalities available for orthopedic surgeons and provide insight into which treatment modalities require further investigation.

RECENT FINDINGS

SD is highly prevalent in athletes, particularly those participating in overhead activities (e.g., baseball, tennis, and swimming) and can coexist with several shoulder pathologies. A holistic approach in the diagnosis of SD has been supported in the literature; however, it is important to recognize that diagnosis is currently limited to the absence of a quantitative SD clinical assessment. The main goal of the treatment of SD is to regain proper scapular positioning and dynamics. The standard of care for the management of SD is conservative interventions aimed at optimizing scapular kinematics. Surgical intervention is only considered in the presence of concomitant pathology requiring surgery. Due to the complexity of coordinated movement of the shoulder girdle, recent literature has begun to move away from the use of traditional orthopedic tests, in favor of a more system-based approach for the diagnosis of SD. We present a concise review of clinical exams and treatment modalities available for orthopedic surgeons in the management of SD.