Comparison of the Efficiency of Manual Therapy and Exercise in People With Mechanical Neck Pain
Condition: Neck Pain; Mobility Limitation
MeSH terms: Neck Pain; Mobility Limitation
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Mechanical neck pain (MNP) is defined as neck pain that becomes evident with the posture of
      the cervical region, movement or palpation of the cervical region muscles, felt in the
      cervical, occipital or posterior scapular region without spreading to the upper extremity,
      and without any trauma or specific pathology underlying the complaints. Most of the MNP cases
      are due to muscular or paraspinal soft tissue problems and show improvement in the first 6
      weeks with conservative treatment methods. Various manual therapy techniques and various
      exercises are reported to have positive effects on neck pain. However, the isolated effects
      of these techniques in people with MNP are not fully known. Therefore, the aim of this study
      is to determine the effects of two different treatment programs in which the manual therapy
      technique and the exercise program are applied in individuals with MNP. In addition,
      comparing the effect of the treatment program in which manual therapy and exercise program
      are applied together with the isolated effects of these techniques is another aim.
    

Detailed description: 
      Mechanical neck pain (MNP) is defined as neck pain that becomes evident with the posture of
      the cervical region, movement or palpation of the cervical region muscles, felt in the
      cervical, occipital or posterior scapular region without spreading to the upper extremity,
      and without any trauma or specific pathology underlying the complaints. MNP causes symptoms
      such as pain in the cervical region, increased sensitivity to pressure, decrease in active
      range of motion (ROM) of the cervical region, drowsiness, and dizziness. Most of the MNP
      cases are due to muscular or paraspinal soft tissue problems and show improvement in the
      first 6 weeks with conservative treatment methods. When the current treatment recommendations
      are examined according to the duration of neck pain accompanied by limitation of movement, an
      exercise program that includes thoracic region mobilization, cervical ROM exercises, and
      strengthening and stretching exercises for the scapulothoracic region and upper extremity
      muscles is recommended for acute neck pain. In addition, various manual therapy techniques
      can be applied to the cervical region.

      In subacute neck pain, an exercise program is applied to increase the endurance of the neck
      and upper extremity muscles. During this period, various manual therapy methods can be
      applied to the thoracic and cervical region. In chronic neck pain, combined treatment
      applications including various exercises, mobilization and manipulation techniques, dry
      needling, laser and intermittent manual/mechanical traction are recommended. It is stated
      that the high-velocity low-amplitude technique, which is among the manual therapy techniques
      and used in many musculoskeletal problems, can increase the ROM, decrease the pain and
      improve the function.

      Various manual therapy techniques and various exercises are reported to have positive effects
      on neck pain. However, the isolated effects of these techniques in people with MNP are not
      fully known. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the effects of two different
      treatment programs in which the manual therapy technique and the exercise program are applied
      in individuals with MNP. In addition, comparing the effect of the treatment program in which
      manual therapy and exercise program are applied together with the isolated effects of these
      techniques is another aim.
    

Intervention name(s): Manual Therapy; Exercise Program
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): Manual Therapy: High velocity-low amplitude technique; Exercise program
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: neck pain; mechanical neck pain; manual therapy; exercise