Active Intervention for Patients With Neck Pain

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Neck pain is a complex biopsychosocial disorder often precipitated or aggravated by neck movements or sustained neck postures. More than 80 % of individuals experience neck pain and neck associated disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 4-week active exercising program in patients with chronic neck pain.

Detailed Description
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While neck pain can be severely disabling and costly, treatment options have shown moderate evidence of effectiveness. The optimal physiotherapy intervention is currently unclear. Consequently, more research in this area combining different techniques in patients with a specific clinical profile is needed. It has been previously shown that participants prefer self-care measures for the management of neck pain. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 4-week active exercising program in patients with chronic neck pain.

Official Title
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Effects of an Active Program in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain: a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Conditions
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Neck Pain

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Active exercising


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: To suffer from chronic neck pain (at least 3 months' duration) Neck pain of at least 3 on a visual analogue scale. Participants' symptoms should be at least partly related to increased nerve mechanosensitivity in the neck and upper limb confirmed by the reproduction of participants' symptoms by median nerve upper-limb neurodynamic test. Exclusion Criteria: Whiplash related neck pain. Previous cervical surgical intervention. Cognitive impairments which prevent them to follow instructions. Visual or acoustic limitations.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 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: Active intervention<br>Patients will be included in an active intervention. | Other: Active exercising<br>* Patients allocated to the experimental group were included in an active exercising program adapted to each patient<br>|
| No Intervention: Control group<br>Patients in the control group will not receive any intervention | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in number of active trigger points | Baseline, 4 weeks | Changes from baseline to 4 weeks in the number of active trigger points assessed by palpation. The percentage of active trigger points is obtained. | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Severity of pain | Baseline, 4 weeks | Changes from baseline to 4 weeks in the severity of pain assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory. The severity and the interference of pain with daily life subscales were included. Score is the sum of the items divided by the number of items. | 
| Functionality | Baseline, 4 weeks | Changes from baseline to 4 weeks on functionality assessed using the Neck Outcome Score.Symptoms, sleep disturbance, every day activity and pain and participation in everyday life subscales were included. They Ranged from 0 to 100 (no simptoms). |