| Objective: The objective of this study was to measure if a manual treatment would alter the levels of exhaled nitric oxide levels in healthy adults. Methods: A study was performed using 23 healthy adults (age, 18-30 years). Nitric oxide (NO) was measured amperometrically before and after a manual treatment. The treatment used was a cranial-thoracic trapezius stretch. Results: In healthy adults, manual manipulation was associated with changes in NO levels in exhaled breath. The level of NO increased from 13.3 ± 2.09 (SD) to 15.0 ± 2.95 (SD) ppb (P = .001, based upon the paired t tests of the subjects). The median level of NO before manual manipulation was 13.0 ppb (ranging from 8 to 17ppb); after manual manipulation, it was 16.0 ppb (ranging from 6 to 18 ppb). Conclusion: The cranial-thoracic trapezius stretch was associated with an increase in exhaled NO, compared to baseline levels for the subjects in this study. This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher; full text by subscription. Click on the above link and select a publisher from PubMed's LinkOut feature.
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