Effects Of Joint Passive Manual Stimulation On Restriction Of Movement Before Thoracic Surgery: Single Blind Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial

Persistent pain following thorax surgery is a well-documented consequence leading to long-term shoulder function restriction and
range of motion, reduced muscle strength, chronic pain and reduced health-related quality of life.
The study was conducted by the Center for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of “G.d’Annunzio” University Chieti-Pescara with the
aim to investigate the pre-operative manual therapy effectiveness in reducing and controlling the development of post-operative pain
and postural disease following a thoracic surgery in patients with a pre-existing shoulder dysfunction. A sample of 26 subjects were
recruited and divided into an experimental group and control group. The former has benefitted of a pre-operative manual therapy,
while the latter only received standard nursing and medical care. Using VAS scale [Visual Analogic Scale] and S.P.A.D.I. index [Shoulder
Pain and Disability Index], the effects of pre-operative manual therapy on experimental group were evaluated both before surgery [T0]
and after surgery [T1].
Statistical analysis of outcome measurements showed a statistically significant reduction of the perception of pain [0,002] and disability
in the experimental group [0,005] compared to the control group in patients who underwent to thorax surgery for lung cancer.