A pilot study to investigate the validity of the rule of threes of the thoracic spine

Michael A. Geelhoed; James A. Viti; Patricia A. Brewer

doi:10.1179/106698105790825021

A pilot study to investigate the validity of the rule of threes of the thoracic spine

Michael A. Geelhoed, James A. Viti, Patricia A. Brewer

Physical Therapy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

This report describes a pilot study conducted to determine the location of the transverse processes (TPs) of the thoracic spine relative to the location of their corresponding spinous processes (SPs). There are clinicians who recommend utilizing the "rule of threes" to locate the TPs of the thoracic spine. This rule was proposed by Mitchell in 1979 and adopted in many orthopedic and manual therapy texts, but it has not been validated with research. In this pilot study, five cadavers were dissected and measurements were taken between the TPs of one thoracic vertebra and the SP of the superior vertebra. Based on the results of this pilot study, the rule of threes was determined to not be an accurate predictor of the location of the TPs of the thoracic spine.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	91-93
Number of pages	3
Journal	Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy
Volume	13
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1179/106698105790825021
State	Published - Jan 1 2005

Keywords

Palpation
Spine
Thoracic Vertebrae

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

Access to Document

10.1179/106698105790825021

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AB - This report describes a pilot study conducted to determine the location of the transverse processes (TPs) of the thoracic spine relative to the location of their corresponding spinous processes (SPs). There are clinicians who recommend utilizing the "rule of threes" to locate the TPs of the thoracic spine. This rule was proposed by Mitchell in 1979 and adopted in many orthopedic and manual therapy texts, but it has not been validated with research. In this pilot study, five cadavers were dissected and measurements were taken between the TPs of one thoracic vertebra and the SP of the superior vertebra. Based on the results of this pilot study, the rule of threes was determined to not be an accurate predictor of the location of the TPs of the thoracic spine.

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