Healthy, Neck Pain
Conditions
Keywords
Exercise, Neck pain, Pain sensitivity
Brief summary
This study investigates the effect of exercise on pain sensitivity in ongoing neck pain patients compared to a healthy control group.
Detailed description
Increased pain sensitivity is a common finding in neck pain patients when compared to healthy controls. Although most studies favor exercise as an intervention, the specific effect on pain sensitivity is still debated. This study will investigate the effect of exercise on pain sensitivity in neck pain patients compared to healthy controls
Interventions
OTHERExercise
All participants will be exposed to aerobic/strengthening exercises
Sponsors
Aalborg University
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
- Healthy participants * Pain free healthy participants * Able to speak, read and understand Danish and English
Exclusion criteria
- Healthy participants * Pain from the neck or shoulder area during the past 6 months * Experience of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) during the week leading up to the test session * Former surgery in neck or shoulder * Current or previous chronic or recurrent pain condition * Pregnancy * Drug addiction defined as the use of cannabis, opioids or other drugs * Previous neurologic, musculoskeletal or mental illnesses * Regular use of analgesics * Abnormally disrupted sleep in the last 24 hours preceding the experiment * Lack of ability to cooperate Inclusion Criteria: - Neck pain population * Self reported neck pain lasting three months or longer. * Able to speak, read and understand Danish and English * Reduced/painful active range of motion of the head and/or painful reaction to palpation of the neck at the time of inclusion
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in pain sensitivity | Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks | Pain sensitivity will be estimated by determining the pressure pain threshold (PPT) on the neck before and after exercise |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in perceived pain | Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks | Pain will be scored using a scale from 0-10 with 0 being no pain and 10 being worst imaginable pain and by drawing perceived painful areas on a body charts |
| Change in disability | Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks | Disability will be estimated by scoring the Neck Disability Index (NDI) questionnaire. The questionnaire is designed to help express how neck pain affects your ability to manage everyday activities.(Domains: pain intensity, personal care, lifting, reading, headache, concentration, work, driving, sleeping, recreation). Higher score = high level of disability |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in body movements | Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks | Head repositioning accuracy will be tested using a clinical test in a seated position. Participants will turn their head to end of range in from a neutral position with their eyes closed and return to the start position again. The difference between start and end position will be recorded. Standing balance will be assessed by recording the time (seconds) a tandem stance can be maintained. |
Contacts
Primary ContactSteffan W Christensen, PhD
Outcome results
None listed