Chronic Non Specific Neck Pain
Conditions
Keywords
Virtual Reality (VR), Non specific Neck Pain (NSNP), Neck-based Training Sensorimotor Training, Sensorimotor Training
Brief summary
The research aims to treat chronic non-specific neck pain using virtual reality (VR) technologies with sensory-motor training. Chronic neck pain is widespread and highly prevalent in Egyptian society due to many factors, such as sitting for long periods in front of a computer or smartphone, which leads to a decline in productivity at work and a constant feeling of fatigue. This problem is considered one of the widespread health problems that affect individuals of all ages and greatly affect their daily lives. This project was chosen based on the growing awareness of the need to search for innovative solutions to this health problem that hinders productivity and affects the general comfort of individuals. The reserch aims to integrate sensory-motor therapy with virtual reality, which helps patients improve movement and flexibility and reduce pain. It does this by simulating exciting interactive environments that engage their attention and help them relieve pain away from traditional treatment methods.
Detailed description
Virtual reality, a novel form of technology, is gaining attention in the medical field for its potential to aid inpatient rehabilitation. This experience will immerse the patient in an interactive and engaging journey. Virtual reality feedback can assist patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain by offering them various sensory and motor tasks to enhance their postural control. Moreover, virtual reality offers a distracting experience that aids in reducing patients' pain and emotional distress. Using a specialized device on their head (Head-mounted device) (HMD) or screen, patients can participate in computer-based exercises as part of virtual reality physical therapy. Combining virtual reality with comprehensive sensorimotor training can be beneficial in treating chronic neck pain.
Interventions
DEVICEVirtual Reality (VR)
Oculus Quest 2 (OQ2) advanced 256 GB all-in-one virtual reality headset, Wi-Fi will be used.
OTHERComprehensive Sensorimotor Training
An exercise program consisting of Cervical JPSM, Cervical movement sense, and Oculomotor control exercises.
Sponsors
MTI University
Cairo University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
A blinded researcher will assess the patients during the trial, blinding will not be feasible for participants or therapists due to the layout of the VR therapy.
Intervention model description
Fifty patients with mechanical neck pain patients will be randomly allocated into 2 equal groups; group (A) received VR neck-based sensorimotor training only, group (B) received comprehensive sensorimotor training only. (Parallel Group Two-Armed Comparative Randomized Controlled Trial)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 40 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. Fifty patients diagnosed with mechanical neck pain between 18- and 40 years old with mechanical neck pain. 2. Patients with pain intensity scores (\>3) on the visual analog scale (VAS; 0-100mm) for an average of three weeks before the study. 3. Neck Disability Index (NDI) scoring 20%-60% (\>6) (moderate to severe disability).
Exclusion criteria
1. Any history of lower extremity or spine trauma or surgery, recognized and observable spinal deformity, neurological disorders, cervical fracture/dislocation, whiplash injuries, neurological/cardiovascular/respiratory disorders affecting patients' physical performance, or inability to provide informed consent. 2. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), as confirmed by the Dix Hallpike test. 3. Pregnancy. 4. Patients who had received physical therapy interventions for neck pain within three months preceding the study were also ineligible for participation and were excluded.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Measurement of pain intensity (VAS) | Before Treatment and after 6 weeks of treatment | Asking the patient to put a horizontal mark on a continuous 10 cm line that represents his/her pain intensity, ranging from zero, which indicates no pain, or 29 discomfort to 10, which indicates the worst possible pain he could feel. |
| Measurement of disability due to neck pain (NDI) | Before Treatment and after 6 weeks of treatment | The patient will complete a condition-specific functional status questionnaire with 10 items. The NDI consists of 10 domains-pain intensity, personal care, lifting, reading, headache, concentration, work, driving, sleep, and recreation-designed to assess the level of disability in patients with neck pain. Patients self-report their level of function/disability in each domain, after which a composite score is calculated. |
| Cervical proprioception and neck reposition sense | Before Treatment and after 6 weeks of treatment | Cervical joint position error (JPE) Test is a measurement tool used to clinically assess an individual's cervicocephalic proprioception ability. |
| Eye Movement Control (Gaze Stability) | Before Treatment and after 6 weeks of treatment | The Dynamic Visual Acuity (DVA) test is used for assessing gaze stability. |
| Cervical range of motion (ROM) | Before Treatment and after 6 weeks of treatment | Cervical ROM results were calculated by averaging the three best values from each direction |
| Cervical kinematics: Peak velocity (V peak /sec) | Before Treatment and after 6 weeks of treatment | Calculated as the maximal angular velocity, from motion initiation to target hit. |
| Cervical kinematics: Mean velocity (V mean /sec) | Before Treatment and after 6 weeks of treatment | The mean angular velocity angular velocity, from motion initiation to target hit |
| Cervical kinematics: Time to peak velocity percentage (TTP%) | Before Treatment and after 6 weeks of treatment | The time from motion initiation to peak velocity moment, as a percentage of total movement time, representing the ratio between the acceleration to deceleration phase in the velocity profile |
| Cervical kinematics: Static head stability (sway) | Before Treatment and after 6 weeks of treatment | The sway in pitch and yaw from the mid-position and calculated in terms of 3D mean and standard deviation amplitude |
| Cervical kinematics: Head movement accuracy | Before Treatment and after 6 weeks of treatment | Motion accuracy was defined as the difference between the target position and the participant's head location. This difference (target position- player's head position) |
Countries
Egypt
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORHadeer Maghraby, MSc
Assistant Lecturer
Outcome results
None listed