Neck Pain
Conditions
Keywords
Musculoskeletal manipulations, Proprioception, Postural balance
Brief summary
To investigate the effect of cervical manual mobilization on head repositioning accuracy and postural balance in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain in a randomized controlled trial. Hypothesis: There is no difference between the intervention group (manual mobilization) and control group head repositioning accuracy and postural balance.
Detailed description
The aim of the study is to investigate the effectiveness of manual therapy to standing balance and head-neck proprioception sense in patients with chronic neck pain. The study will recruit 120 chronic neck pain patients and randomize the into 2 groups of 60. Group 1 will receive a course of manual therapy and infrared radiation for 15 minutes (twice weekly for 12 sessions). The other group (control) will receive infrared radiation therapy only. Manual therapy will be provided by experienced physiotherapists and assessed by a separate assessor. All outcome measures will be assessed at the beginning of study, upon completion of intervention, 3-month and 6-month after the completion of study. All measurements collected will be analysed by computerized statistical software in order to calculate the effectiveness of manual therapy and relationship among those outcome measurements.
Interventions
PROCEDUREManual mobilization on cervical spine
Manual mobilization provided on selected cervical spine in patients with chronic mechanical neck apin
PROCEDUREInfra-red therapy with self exercise pamphlet
Infra-red radiation therapy on cervical spine with self exercise pamphlet given to patients with chronic mechanical neck pain.
Sponsors
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Aged 18 to 65 years * Presented with a complaint of neck pain (defined as pain in the region from the upper thoracic spine to the occiput and the surrounding musculature) for more than 7 weeks. * Had not received neck pain treatment in the past 1 month
Exclusion criteria
* Onset of presenting neck pain episode after trauma (eg, whiplash) * History of cervical injury of trauma since the onset of presenting neck pain episode * History of cervical injury or trauma * Neck pain due to fracture, tumor, infection, severe spondyloarthropathy, or other non-mechanical cause such as inflammatory arthritis; * Progressive neurological deficit, myelopathy, herniated nucleus pulpous, or severe incapacitating pain; * Being treated by electrical devices; * Blood coagulation disorder or were using corticosteroids or anticoagulant medications; * History of stroke or transient ischemic attacks; * Vertebrobasilar artery insufficiency; * Neurologic disease (eg, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, syringomyelia); * Congenital anomalies involving the C-spine; * Systemic disease (eg, diabetes mellitus); * Pain involving third-party liability or Workers' Compensation.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Head repositioning accuracy | up to 6 month post intervention | Head re-positioning accuracy by using laser-pointer mounted in a cyclist helmet. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Postural balance | up to 6 month post intervention | Standing postural sway using computerized validated equipment. |
| Northwick Park Questionnaire | up to 6 month post intervention | Neck disability questionnaire |
| Active neck range of motion | up to 6 month post intervention | Active neck range of motion using 3-dimensional goniometer. |
| Numeric Pain Rating Scale | up to 6 month post intervention | Subjective numeric pain rating scale from 0 - 10. |
Countries
Hong Kong
Outcome results
None listed