Comparison of spinal column alignment and autonomic nervous activity using the intersegmental tenderness test in the...

[Purpose] The thoracolumbar supraspinous intersegmental tenderness test (ITT) in the segment above was performed to compare spinal alignment and autonomic activity in the presence or absence of pain. [Participants and Methods] Thirty young males were grouped into Th1-4 (Cardiopulmonary visceral nerves), Th5-9 (Large visceral nerve), and Th10-12 (Small visceral nerve) by ITT for the presence of pain. Measurements of the spinal alignment and autonomic function were performed. [Results] Those with ITT pain had a significantly lower range of motion in the sagittal plane at Th12, Th12-L1, and L2-3 and in the frontal plane at Th1-2, Th4-5, Th6-7, and L3-4 than those in the no pain group. On autonomic function tests, the pain group had significantly lower Total Power, LF (Low Frequency), and CVRR (Coefficient of variation of R-R interval). [Conclusion] In ITT, patients with pain at Th5-9 have a mixture of reduced sagittal tilt angle and autonomic hypofunction of the adjacent upper and lower thoracic to lumbar vertebrae.