Alexander Technique Neck Pain

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aimed to test the efficacy of five Alexander Technique lessons compared to the same period of heat pad application and guided imagery in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain.

Detailed Description
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see above

Official Title
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Randomized Controlled Trial on the Efficacy of F.M. Alexander Technique in Chronic Neck Pain Patients

Conditions
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Chronic Non-specific Neck Pain

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Alexander Technique
* Device: Heat pad application
* Behavioral: guided imagery


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: chronic non-specific neck pain at least 3 months 40mm pain intensity on visual analog scale Exclusion Criteria: neck pain as consequence of disc protrusion or prolapse, whiplash, congenital deformity of the spine, spinal stenosis, neoplasm, inflammatory rheumatic disease, neurological disorder, active oncologic disease affective disorder addiction psychosis. pregnancy invasive treatment of the spine within the previous three weeks spinal surgery previous experiences in Alexander Technique ongoing application for disability pension simultaneous participation in other clinical trials on neck pain

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Alexander Technique<br>5 lessons of AT, each lasting up to 45 minutes, weekly intervals The lessons aimed at sensory awareness of everyday movements and movement sequences, such as sitting, walking, lying, or lifting in order to replace habitual patterns using conscious control; and different techniques were applied, such as demonstration, verbal instructions, hands on techniques and others | Behavioral: Alexander Technique<br> <br> |
| Active Comparator: Heat pad application<br>5 treatments by means of a heat pad, 15-0 minutes, sitting or lying position, quiet room Heat pad: Zapp-Sack® contained certain grains and a ginger extract, and could be heated up in the microwave. | Device: Heat pad application<br> <br> |
| Active Comparator: guided imagery<br>guided imagery relaxation technique , 45 minutes, 5 sessions in weekly rhythm including body scan, breathing relaxation, visualization | Behavioral: guided imagery<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| neck pain intensity | neck pain intensity measured on a 100mm visual analog scales comparison Alexander technique vs. heat pad comparison Alexander technique vs. guided imagery | 5 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| quality of life | quality of life measured by the SF-36 questionnaire | 5 weeks | 
| Pain on motion | pain on motion (movement of head in different directions) measured by the POM (Lauche, 2014, pain medicine) | 5 weeks | 
| Medication | weekly dose of medication calculated as the defined daily dose according to WHO | 5 weeks | 
| functional disability | measured by the neck disability index (NDI) | 5 weeks | 
| satisfaction | satisfaction measured on a visual analog scale and via questions like would you consider using it again or would you recommend it | 5 weeks | 
| safety | any adverse event during the study period | 5 weeks |