Clinical trial NCT01171274: Effects of Hatha Yoga on Chronic Neck Pain
Official title: Randomisierte Kontrollierte Studie Zum Einfluss Von Hatha Yoga Auf Sensorische Schwellen, Kinästhetik Und Körperbild Bei Patienten Mit Chronischen Nackenschmerzen
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Neck Pain
Keywords: neck pain
yoga
proprioception
sensory thresholds
randomized controlled trial
Lead sponsor: Universität Duisburg-Essen
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2010-07-28
Enrollment: 58
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 60
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Hatha Yoga is a traditional system of exercises, used in India for the relief of painful condition since centuries and gaining more and more interest in Europe and the US. While studies have demonstrated benefits of Hatha Yoga for patients with chronic low back pain, no studies regarding chronic neck pain are available until now. The purpose of this study is to determine if Hatha Yoga can ameliorate chronic neck pain and related restrictions.

Detailed description: Hatha Yoga is a traditional system of exercises, used in India for the relief of painful condition since centuries and gaining more and more interest in Europe and the US. The efficacy of Hatha Yoga for relieving chronic low back pain has been repeatedly demonstrated in clinical trials, while there are no studies in the literature regarding chronic neck pain. The aim of this study is to investigate, whether a 9 weeks-course of Hatha Yoga reduces subjective pain ratings and disability in patients suffering from chronic neck pain. Furthermore, as neck pain patients have been shown to suffer from impaired sensory processing and proprioception, along with restricted range of motion, the study aims to test if Hatha Yoga can improve these variables. Therefore, tests regarding cervicocephalic proprioception, active range of motion and the processing of mechanical, vibration and pain stimuli will be included.

58 patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain will be randomized to either Hatha Yoga group or control group, receiving information regarding exercises for chronic neck pain. The control group will be offered to take part in a Yoga class after the end of the study.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Chronic mechanical neck pain, at least 40 mm on the 100mm visual analog scale.
* Pain for at least 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

* radicular symptoms
* congenital spine deformity
* pregnancy
* rheumatic diseases
* oncologic diseases
* other severe psychiatric or somatic comorbidity
* recent invasive or surgical treatment of the spine
* regularly yoga practice participation in other studies

Primary outcomes:
measure: Neck pain intensity (100mm visual analog scale)
timeFrame: Week 10
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Cervicocephalic kinesthetic sensibility
timeFrame: Week 10
measure: Active range of motion
timeFrame: Week 10
measure: Pain related to motion
timeFrame: Week 10
measure: Pressure pain threshold
timeFrame: Week 10
measure: Neck disability index (NDI)
timeFrame: Week 10
measure: SF-36
timeFrame: Week 10
measure: Pain diary
timeFrame: From Week 1 to Week 10
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Essen
country: Germany
facility: Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Knappschafts-Krankenhaus, Department for Internal and Integrative Medicine
state: Northrhine-Westphalia
Study officials:
References: