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Monopolar Dielectric Diathermy and Therapeutic Exercise on Chronic Neck Pain and Therapeutic Exercise on Pain, Functionality, Movement Phobia on Pain, Functionality, Movement Phobia and Quality of Life of Patients of Patients With Chronic Neck Pain. Randomized Clinical Trial

Efficacy of Monopolar Dielectric Diathermy and Therapeutic Exercise on Pain, Functionality, Movement Phobia and Quality of Life in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain.

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06072313
Enrollment
70
Registered
2023-10-10
Start date
2023-09-01
Completion date
2024-03-30
Last updated
2025-06-03

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Chronic Pain, Neck Pain

Keywords

monopolar electrical diathermy, therapeutic exercise

Brief summary

The aim of this study is to compare the effects of applying monopolar dielectric radiofrequency diathermy plus therapeutic neck yoga with performing only therapeutic neck yoga in patients with non-specific chronic neck pain.

Detailed description

Chronic non-specific neck pain (CNNP) is a widespread public health problem in the modern world. CNNP is considered persistent neck pain or severe neck discomfort for more than 3 months, which is caused by poor posture and mechanical and degenerative changes, excluding pain due to neck cancer, infections, hernias or other neck disorders or pathologies. In the general population, 71% of adults have neck pain at some time in their lives, and its annual prevalence in the general and working population varies between 30% and 50%. In addition, CNNP is an important cause of work absenteeism and disability. The research of effective techniques and therapies in the approach of this ailment is a current need within the field of physiotherapy and would mean a reduction of the direct and indirect costs in the health systems generated by patients diagnosed with non-specific chronic neck pain. One of the therapies that is achieving positive results in the symptomatology of different musculoskeletal pathologies such as fibromyalgia syndrome , multiple sclerosis or femoropatellar pain syndrome, is the technique of applying monopolar electric diathermy by radiofrequency emission (MDR), using the Physicalm® device which produces an increase in local temperature due to the action of electromagnetic waves that stimulate tissue metabolism and reduce pain. Due to all the structural and functional alterations that occur in CNNP, within clinical practice guidelines exercise is one of the most important components in rehabilitation programs for patients with neck pain. Recently, supervised therapeutic exercise has been included as a common intervention in clinical practice worldwide.

Interventions

OTHERMonopolar electrical diathermy plus therapeutic exercise

The Experimental Group will undergo two sessions per week of monopolar electrical diathermy by radiofrequency emission (MDR) using the Physicalm® device and one session of therapeutic neck exercise per week.

OTHERTherapeutic Exercise

The exercise program will consist of standing, seated and supine postures, starting with simple postures and moving on to more complex ones. Participants will be asked to focus on their posture, joint positions and muscle tension in each exercise posture.

Sponsors

Universidad de Almeria
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Single

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
30 Years to 67 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Men and women between 30 and 65 years of age. * Diagnosed by a specialist physician of chronic cervical pain of non-specific origin. * Acceptance and signature of informed consent for voluntary participation in the research study. * Not to be undergoing any type of physical therapy or pharmacological treatment. * Acceptance to attend the treatment sessions of the present research study.

Exclusion criteria

* Being under rehabilitation or pharmacological treatment of lumbar pathology. * Alterations of sensitivity or coagulation. * Thermal sensitivity problems. * Present osteosynthesis material at lumbar level. * Present cardiac, epilepsy or tumor complications. * Non-acceptance of the informed consent or non-attendance to all the sessions that make up the treatment.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Neck disability indexChange from baseline disability at four weeks and three monthsThe neck disability index consists of 10 questions addressing functional activities such as personal care, lifting, reading, work, driving, sleeping, recreational, pain intensity, concentration and headache.
Active and Latent Myofascial Trigger Points (Number of trigger Points)Change from baseline myofascial trigger points at four weeks and three monthsMyofascial Trigger Points will be explored in the following pairs of muscles: occipital, splenius capitis, sternocleidomastoid, scalene, trapezius, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and multifidus.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Quality of Life (SF-36 quality of life questionnaire)Change from baseline quality of life at four weeks and three monthsThe SF-36 quality of life questionnaire assesses 8 domains including physical functioning, physical role, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, and mental health.
Quality of Sleep (Pittsburgh Quality of Sleep Questionnaire Index)Change from baseline quality of sleep at four weeks and three monthsThe Pittsburgh Quality of Sleep Questionnaire Index (PSQI) will be used to study the quality of sleep. It comprises 24 items where the subjects respond to 19 of these items, and individual living in the same dwelling (or hospital room) responds to the remaining 5. Scores are obtained on each of 7 components of sleep quality: subjective quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficacy, sleep perturbations, use of hypnotic medication, and daily dysfunction.
Pain (Visual Analog Scale)Change from baseline pain intensity at four weeks and three monthsPain will be assessed with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), which assesses the pain intensity and degree of relief experienced by the patient (scored of 0 = no pain; 10 = unbearable pain).
Tampa scale for kinesiophobiaChange from baseline phobia of movement at four weeks and three monthsThe 17-item Tampa scale for kinesiophobia assesses fear of movement or of injury or reinjury.
Cervical Range of MotionChange from baseline range of motion at four weeks and three monthsCervical range of motion is assessed with the patient sitting comfortably on a chair, with both feet flat on the floor, hips and knees at 90º of flexion, and buttocks positioned against the back of the chair.
McGill Pain QuestionnaireChange from baseline pain intensity at four weeks and three months

Countries

Spain

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026