Motor_Control_Neck_SSED

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
Neck pain is a common problem in the western world. There is a group of people suffering from neck pain with a reduced ability to maintain an upright posture showing a forward head position and an altered muscle function. The aim of the study was to evaluate a motor control intervention for patients with persistent neck pain and a forward head posture. This pilot study used a Single System Experimental Design (SSED) with an A-B-A-design and multiple baselines. The tailored motor control intervention addressed the faulty postural alignment and the deep muscles of the cervical spine.

Official Title
-----------------
A Motor Control Intervention of Patients With Forward Head Posture and Persistent Neck Pain - A Single System Experimental Design With 12 Month Follow-up

Conditions
-----------------
Neck Pain, Forward Head Posture

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Behavioral: Motor control intervention of head posture


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: 20 - 50 years of age with pain originating from the neck for at least three months. A visual forward head posture. Less than105 points on the Örebro musculoskeletal pain screening questionnaire Exclusion Criteria: neurological dysfunction. former cervical surgery or compression fracture of the spine no mental retardation no physiotherapy treatment during the last 6 months.

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 20 Years
Maximum Age: 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
No

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Behavioral: Motor control intervention of head posture|The tailored motor control intervention used for motor learning-procedure described by Fitts and Posner, further developed and adapted to rehabilitation of the spine by O´Sullivan. The stages involved in the process was the Cognitive stage, Associative stage and the Autonomous stage|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Head posture | The craniovertebral (CV) -angle was used to estimate the cervical curvature and head posture in relation to the thorax being measured with the Head Posture Spinal Curvature Instrument | Effect from baseline to 8 weeks and being maintained to 12 month | 
| Muscle function of the deep cervical flexors | The Cranio-Cervical Flexion Test (C-CFT) was used to assess the tonic holding abilities of the deep cervical muscles by using a Pressure biofeedback unit. | Effect from baseline to 8 weeks and being maintained to 12 month | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Disability | The Neck Disability Index (NDI) is a self-reported questionnaire with 10 categories where each question estimates the current status, from no disability (0) to full disability within that category used to assess disability. | Effect from baseline to 8 weeks and being maintained to 12 month | 
| Pain intensity | The pain intensity was evaluated using the 100 mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) with the anchors no pain and worst pain imaginable that assessed the average pain intensity in the neck over the last seven days. | Effect from baseline to 8 weeks and being maintained to 12 month | 

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
neck pain, motor control, intervention, forward head posture