Neck Pain
Conditions
Keywords
Hyperthermia, Induced, Randomized Controlled Trial, Neck Pain, Sensory Thresholds, Pain Measurements
Brief summary
Chronic neck pain is a common worldwide problem. In the majority of cases, patients are treated by medication, referral to a physiotherapist or thermotherapy. Thermotherapy - the therapeutic application of topical heat - provides an easy to apply self-help strategy in patients with chronic neck pain. However, despite the frequent use in clinical practice, there is no research regarding this topic yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether thermotherapy self-treatment for chronic neck pain induces changes in perceived pain intensity and in sensory processing.
Interventions
PROCEDUREThermotherapy
Patients are instructed to heat a moor mud filled heat pad (beinio®therm, bb med. product GmbH, Kalkar (Kehrum), Germany) to a hot, but tolerable temperature and to apply it over the painful area once a day for 20 minutes during a period of 14 days. Patients are instructed to continue their usual medication - including analgesic drugs - and physiotherapy (massages and exercise) during the study period.
Sponsors
Universität Duisburg-Essen
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* non-specific neck pain the last 3 months * mean pain intensity of at least 4 on a 10-level numerical rating scale with 0 meaning no pain and 10 meaning worst pain imaginable
Exclusion criteria
* radicular symptoms * congenital spine deformity * skin diseases in the painful area to be treated * pregnancy * insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus * rheumatic diseases * oncologic diseases * steroid medication * anticoagulation medication * recent invasive or surgical treatment of the spine
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Neck pain intensity (100mm visual analog scale) | Day 14 | 100mm visual analog scale |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Neck disability index (NDI) | Day 14 | The Neck Disability Index is an instrument to assess neck pain complaints. Reference: Vernon H, Mior S. The Neck Disability Index: a study of reliability and validity. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1991;14:409-415. |
| SF-36 | Day 14 | The SF-36 is a short-form health survey consisting of 8 scales (physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, mental health) measuring functional health and well-being as well as a physical a and mental health component scores. Reference: Bullinger M, Kirchberger I. SF-36 Fragebogen zum Gesundheitszustand. Göttingen: Hogrefe, 1998. |
| Pain diary | From day 1 to day 14 | 100mm visual analog scale for rating neck pain intensity each day |
| Pressure pain threshold | Day 14 | Pressure pain threshold measured at two individual points at the neck: (1) at the point of maximal pain and (2) in the adjacent region, one to two cm outside the painful area and at both hands, serving as control sites. Measurement procedure according to the protocol of QST. Reference: Rolke R et al. Quantitative sensory testing in the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain (DFNS): standardized protocol and reference values. Pain 2006;123:231-243. |
| Pain related to motion | Day 14 | 100mm visual analog scale for 6 movement directions (flexion, extension, rotation right/left, lateral flexion right/left) Reference: Irnich D, Behrens N, Molzen H, König A, Gleditsch J, Krauss M, Natalis M, Senn E, Beyer A, Schöps P. Randomised trial of acupuncture compared with conventional massage and sham laser acupuncture for treatment of chronic neck pain. BMJ. 2001 Jun 30;322(7302):1574-8. |
| Mechanical detection threshold | Day 14 | Mechanical detection threshold measured at two individual points at the neck: (1) at the point of maximal pain and (2) in the adjacent region, one to two cm outside the painful area and at both hands, serving as control sites. Measurement procedure according to the protocol of QST. Reference: Rolke R et al. Quantitative sensory testing in the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain (DFNS): standardized protocol and reference values. Pain 2006;123:231-243. |
| Side effects | Day 14 | Open question on any side effects or other experiences with the treatment |
| Medication and additional treat ment use | Day 14 | Patient report used medication or additional treatment during the study period |
| Vibration detection threshold | Day 14 | Vibration detection threshold measured at two individual points at the neck: (1) at the point of maximal pain and (2) in the adjacent region, one to two cm outside the painful area and at both hands, serving as control sites. Measurement procedure according to the protocol of QST. Reference: Rolke R et al. Quantitative sensory testing in the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain (DFNS): standardized protocol and reference values. Pain 2006;123:231-243. |
Countries
Germany
Outcome results
None listed