Association between cervical and thoracic somatic dysfunction among second-year osteopathic medical students

Area of Science:

• Osteopathic manipulative medicine
• Spinal biomechanics
• Somatic dysfunction diagnosis

Background:

• Cervical and thoracic somatic dysfunction are common, necessitating a strong understanding of spinal mechanics.
• Interrelationships between functional and dysfunctional spinal regions are critical in osteopathic practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the concomitant occurrence of cervical and thoracic somatic dysfunction.
• Specifically, to examine the association between occipitoatlantal (OA) and upper thoracic (T1-T4) somatic dysfunction.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of somatic dysfunction prevalence in second-year osteopathic medical students.
• Somatic dysfunction defined by TART criteria (Tissue texture changes, Asymmetry, Restriction of motion, Tenderness).
• Statistical analyses included Pearson chi-squared test and analysis of variance.

Main Results:

• Highest prevalence of somatic dysfunction observed at OA (76.0%), C3 (76.0%), T3 (73.1%), T5 (66.9%), and T4 (66.0%).
• Statistically significant associations found between OA dysfunction and AA, C2, and T4 segments.
• Significant correlation between upper cervical (OA, AA, C2) dysfunction and upper/midthoracic dysfunction (P<.001).

Conclusions:

• Confirmed a statistically significant association between cervical and thoracic somatic dysfunction.
• Dysfunction in the occipitoatlantal (OA) region is significantly associated with AA, C2, and T4 segments.
• Upper thoracic and midthoracic dysfunction prevalence is directly proportional to upper cervical dysfunction.