The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the loss of thoracic mobility and the stiffness of neck and shoulder. 61 persons (19 males, 42 females) who had no functional disorder in their shoulder were involved in this study. The average age was 34.0 ± 11.1 years old. The method of manipulation where we flex the subject's thoracic spine while holding the neck of the subject was the only maneuver in this study. We assessed VAS and place of the stiffness, change of sagittal spinal curvature in standing and banzai posture. The pop sound in the thoracic joint was obtained in 54 subjects. After the treatment, VAS was significantly decreased from 44.1 ± 29.8 to 18.8 ± 17.6. Among 29 persons feeling neck stiffness, 26 had improved. Among 44 feeling stiffness around upper scapula, 42 had improved. Among 14 feeling stiffness of medial scapula, 13 had improved. 2 felt stiffness on the scapula, 1 was improved after treatment. There was no significant difference between before and after manipulation in thoracic kyphosis, lumber lordosis and inclination of standing. But there was a significant relationship between the range of motion of the thoracic spine and VAS after manipulation. The improvement of the thoracic mobility induced significant improvement in the neck and shoulder stiffness. This result suggested the postural control disorder by the loss of thoracic mobility was one of the important factors of neck and shoulder stiffness.
