Significance: The results of this study should improve clinical decision-making and outcomes from physical therapy intervention by assisting clinicians in their ability to select appropriate manual physical therapy techniques for patients with neck pain. Validation of the CPR would enhance the certainty in which therapists will be able to identify patients with neck pain who are likely to exhibit a dramatic response to thoracic spine thrust manipulation as measured by reduced levels of disability) and therapeutic exercises. Results of the study will impact future patients with neck pain as it will provide a method of classification in which based on their clinical presentation therapists can determine the likelihood that they will or will not respond to thoracic spine thrust manipulation.