Recruitment was by convenience sampling via referrals from local physical therapists and flyers posted on a university campus. Participants were assigned to either a transverse vertebral pressures mobilization group or a control group. Inclusion criteria for the mobilization group were 1) ages 18 to 60, and 2) mechanical neck pain defined as pain exacerbated by movement. Among the exclusion criteria were unexplained night pain, unexplained weight loss, numbness and tingling in the arms and/or legs, balance or coordination problems, morning stiffness lasting greater than one hour, a history of whiplash injury within six weeks of treatment, diagnosis of osteoporosis, symptoms suggestive of nerve root compression, prior cervical or thoracic spine surgery, or a pending legal action. Inclusion criteria for the control group were 1) ages 18 to 60, and 2) asymptomatic neck and thoracic regions over the previous six years by subject report. The latter group was labeled "control" in the sense that it allowed blinding of the rater rather than in the sense of a sham treatment group. The project was approved by the University of Puget Sound Institutional Review Board, and written informed consent was obtained from all the subjects.