The Effect of Matrix Rhythm Therapy in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain
Condition: Chronic Pain; Physical Disability
MeSH terms: Chronic Pain; Neck Pain
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Thirty individuals with chronic neck pain randomised into two groups. Group I (15 subjects)
      received a total of 10 sessions as 5 sessions a week.Hot pack to cervical and upper thoracic
      regions (20 minutes), conventional Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) (100 Hz
      for 40 μsec), therapeutic ultrasound (1 Megahertz (MHz) for 5 minutes) and conventional
      massage were applied. Five sessions of Matrix Rhythm Therapy (2., 5., 6., 8., 10. sessions of
      combined physiotherapy programme) was added at combined physiotherapy Group II. Matrix Rhythm
      Therapy was applied to cervical and thoracic regions using 10 Hz frequency for 30 minutes.

      Pain intensity was measured using by a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) measuring 10 cm. Muscle
      spasm in cervical region was assessed by using a VAS measuring 10 cm. Turkish version of Neck
      Disability Index (NDI) was used to assess the disability caused by neck pain. Turkish version
      of Beck Depression Inventory was used to assess emotional status of participants.
    

Detailed description: 
      The study included patients aged between 25-65 years who had neck pain for at least 3 months.
      Patients with radiculopathy who had motor findings, who underwent any operations due to neck
      problems, who had systemic, neurologic and psychiatric diseases, inflammatory or infectious
      diseases, history of malignity, congenital anomalies, who benefited from another therapy
      modality and the ones in whom physical therapy modalities could not be used due to
      contraindications (individuals with sensory disorders, who use cardiac pace maker) were
      excluded from the study.

      A total of 36 individuals were randomly assigned into 2 groups. Randomization was allocated
      by numbered envelopes method. A total of 30 subjects (15 in Matrix Rhythm Therapy (MRT) group
      and 15 in CG) with neck pain due to mechanic causes like cervical discopathy, cervical
      arthrosis or myofascial pain syndrome were participated in this study.

      All assessments were done by the same physiotherapist (FU) before therapy and at the end of
      treatment sessions. The physiotherapist who did the assessments did not know to which group
      the subjects were belonged. Another physiotherapist who was not informed about the results of
      the evaluation treated the patients.

      Home-based exercise programs and recommendations were also given to patients. Matrix Rhythm
      Therapy is developed by Dr. Ulrich G. Randall at the university of Erlangen/Nuremberg.
      Longitudinal stroking, compression and spooning techniques are specific methods of MRT.
      Therapies of the patients were done by the physiotherapist who had certificate of MRT
      application.
    

Intervention name(s): Matrix Rhythm Therapy; Control
Intervention type(s): Procedure; Procedure
Intervention description(s): Hot pack to cervical and upper thoracic regions (20 min), conventional TENS (100 Hz for 40 μsec), therapeutic ultrasound (1 MHz for 5 min) and conventional massage (using stroking, kneading and friction techniques for 5 minutes) were applied as passive physiotherapy modalities. Normal range of motion exercises, posture exercises, stretching exercises and isometric exercises were instructed as part of active physiotherapy.Five sessions of MRT (2., 5., 6., 8., 10. sessions of combined physiotherapy programme) was added at combined physiotherapy to Matrix Rhythm Group. Matrix Rhythm Therapy was applied to cervical and thoracic regions using 10 Hz frequency for 30 min (15 min for right and left sides each) according to the instructions of the technique developer.; Hot pack to cervical and upper thoracic regions (20 min), conventional TENS (100 Hz for 40 μsec), therapeutic ultrasound (1 MHz for 5 min) and conventional massage (using stroking, kneading and friction techniques for 5 minutes) were applied as passive physiotherapy modalities. Normal range of motion exercises, posture exercises, stretching exercises and isometric exercises were instructed as part of active physiotherapy.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Investigator)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Matrix Rhythm Therapy; Massage; Physical Therapy; Neck Pain