Based on the scientific structure of the studies proposed by the IAMMM the Marsman Foundation decided in a paper to develop a scientific research program to investigate the reliability of the basic lateralization tests which are used by the practitioner to diagnose asymmetric mobility in the individual (VAN WYLICK). Second to this step mobility tests are examined and related to lateralization tests. At the end of this 5 year program a RCT will be developed in the direction of treatment technics.



Validation of a manual test for detection of side bending of the thoracic spine and it’s relation with a preferential side-bending test

Menno van Hogezand MD, Sjef Rutte, MD MSc MSK, The Netherlands

The thoracic spine has a key function in the mobility of the spine (12 out of 24 mobile segments) and serves as a facilitator of the mobility of the shoulder girdle. Although not well understood and investigated, there may be a link with lumbar , cervical and shoulder dysfunction .

This study consists of four researches:
1- a literature review of the mobility of the thoracic spine;
2- a reproducibility study of three preferential movement tests of the thoracic spine;
3- a literature review of preferential movements of the thoracic spine;
4- the validation of a manual test of the thoracic spine.

Ad 1 and 3: as far as we know the last literature review on thoracic mobility was published in 2004. Till today there has not been done a literature review on preferential movements of the thoracic spine. In our studies traditional materials and methods of literature reviews will be used.

Ad 2: an adapted version of an existing reproducibility and validity protocol has been made and will be executed within a short time. Partly this is a replication and fine tuning of a past study on preferential movement tests.

Ad 4: measurements has been done on the thoracic spine using clinical range of motion techniques, ultrasound, optical motion techniques, radiographs (not recently), CT-scanning, and 3D magnetic tracking systems. Our study will be done with a 3D magnetic tracking system. Till now sensors are used to be placed on the skin of the subject. In this study sensors will be placed in the hand gloves of the tester because we want to know whether the observation of the tester coincides with the measurements. Also the subject will be asked about her/his experiences.

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