Visual Feedback in Chronic Neck Pain

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of visual feedback of the posterior region of the cervical spine on pain intensity and range of motion.

Detailed Description
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60 patients with chronic idiopathic neck pain will be randomly assigned into one of two groups: a group receiving visual feedback when performing 10 repetitions of each of neck movements (flexion, extension, side-flexion and rotation) and a group performing the same task without visual feedback. Participants will be assessed for pain intensity, pain location, disability, range of motion, kinesiophobia, catastrophizing and anxiety both at baseline and after visual the intervention (i.e., neck movements with and without visual feedback).

Official Title
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Impacto do Feedback Visual da região Posterior da Coluna Cervical, na Intensidade da Dor e Amplitude de Movimento, em Utentes Com Dor Cervical crónica idiopática

Conditions
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Neck Pain

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Visual feedback
* Other: No visual feedback


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: To have idiopathic neck pain defined as neck pain unrelated to any known pathology or lesion felt at least once a week in the last 3 months, located between the nuchal line and a horizontal line passing through T1 and pain intensity of at least 3 in the visual analogue scale. Exclusion Criteria: History of cervical or facial trauma, radiculopathy, history of surgery in the vertebral segment in question, congenital anomalies involving the spine (cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine) or any neurological or rheumatic pathology, and, finally, evidence of significant visual changes, or of deficits not corrected by lenses or glasses.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 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: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Visual feedback<br>Participants in this group will receive visual feedback of their neck when performing 10 repetitions of each of neck movements (flexion, extension, side-flexion and rotation). | Other: Visual feedback<br>* Visual feedback of the neck will be given to participants using two mirrors while performing neck movements.<br>|
| Active Comparator: No visual feedback<br>Participants in this group will perform 10 repetitions of each of neck movements (flexion, extension, side-flexion and rotation) without feedback. | Other: No visual feedback<br>* Participants will be asked to perform active movements of their neck with the mirrors covered.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Neck pain intensity | Measured using a 10 cm visual analogue scale | Baseline | 
| Neck pain intensity | Measured using a 10 cm visual analogue scale | Immediately after the intervention (at 30 minutes) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pain location | Measured using a body chart | Baseline | 
| Pain location | Measured using a body chart | Immediately after the intervention (at 30 minutes) | 
| Time for pain to return to baseline levels | Measured with a chronometer | Immediately after the intervention (at 30 minutes) | 
| Pain disability | Measured using the Neck Disability Questionnaire (range: 0-50 and higher scores are indicative of more disability) | Baseline | 
| Pain disability | Measured using the Neck Disability Questionnaire (range: 0-50 and higher scores are indicative of more disability) | Immediately after the intervention (at 30 minutes) | 
| Neck range of motion | Measured using a goniometer | Baseline | 
| Neck range of motion | Measured using a goniometer | Immediately after the intervention (at 30 minutes) | 
| Kinesiophobia | Measured using the Tampa Scale of Kinsesiophobia (Range: 13-52 and higher values are indicative of a higher fear of movement. | Baseline | 
| Kinesiophobia | Measured using the Tampa Scale of Kinsesiophobia (Range: 13-52 and higher values are indicative of a higher fear of movement. | Immediately after the intervention (at 30 minutes) | 
| Catastrophyzing | Measured using the Pain Catastrophyzing Scale (range: 0-52 and higher scores and indicative of higher pain catastrophyzing) | Baseline | 
| Catastrophyzing | Measured using the Pain Catastrophyzing Scale (range: 0-52 and higher scores and indicative of higher pain catastrophyzing) | Immediately after the intervention (at 30 minutes) | 
| Anxiety | Measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Scale, which consists of 2 sub-scales, one measures trait anxiety and the other measures state anxiety; both scales have an independent score that ranges from 20 to 80 and higher scores are indicative of higher anxiety. | Baseline | 
| Anxiety | Measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Scale, which consists of 2 sub-scales, one measures trait anxiety and the other measures state anxiety; both scales have an independent score that ranges from 20 to 80 and higher scores are indicative of higher anxiety. | Immediately after the intervention (at 30 minutes) | 
| Neck perception | Assessed by asking participants to draw their neck as they perceive it to be | Baseline | 
| Neck perception | Assessed by asking participants to draw their neck as they perceive it to be | Immediately after the intervention (at 30 minutes) |