Clinical trial NCT05078489: Acute Effects of Action Observation on Neck Pain
Official title: Acute Effects of Action Observation on Pain Intensity, Muscle Strength, Tactile Acuity and Pressure Pain Threshold.
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Neck Pain
Lead sponsor: Aveiro University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2021-10-14
Enrollment: 60
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 65
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: This study aims to assess the immediate effects of action observation therapy on the cervical muscles' strength, pain intensity, tactile acuity and pain pressure threshold in individuals with chronic nonspecific neck pain.

Detailed description: This study is a randomized controlled trial with two arms: action observation group vs control group. The action observation group will be asked to watch videos of neck exercises with full attention and concentration and not perform any motion or execute any movement during the observation time. The control group will be asked to watch videos of a landscape.

Participants will be assessed at baseline and at post-intervention for muscle strength, pain intensity, pressure pain threshold and tactile acuity.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Have nonspecific chronic neck pain, defined as a recurrent or persistent pain that lasts more than 3 months, with no trauma or etiology/diagnosis associated.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Visual and hearing dysfunction not corrected by eyeglasses/contact lenses or a hearing aid;
* Infectious diseases;
* Cervical myelopathy;
* Cervical surgery;
* Cervical fracture or/and subluxation;
* Vestibular pathology;
* Neurological disorder/deficits;
* Rheumatic autoimmune diseases;
* History of cancer;
* Severe cervical trauma.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Pressure pain thresholds
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Pressure pain thresholds
timeFrame: Post-intervention (within the same session of the baseline assessment but approximately 30 minutes after that).
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Pain intensity
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Pain intensity
timeFrame: Post-intervention (within the same session of the baseline assessment but approximately 30 minutes after that).
measure: Tactile acuity
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Tactile acuity
timeFrame: Post-intervention (within the same session of the baseline assessment but approximately 30 minutes after that).
measure: Neck flexors strength
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Neck flexors strength
timeFrame: Post-intervention (within the same session of the baseline assessment but approximately 30 minutes after that).
measure: Neck extensors strength
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Neck extensors strength
timeFrame: Post-intervention (within the same session of the baseline assessment but approximately 30 minutes after that).
measure: Neck lateral flexors strength
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Neck lateral flexors strength
timeFrame: Post-intervention (within the same session of the baseline assessment but approximately 30 minutes after that).
Other outcomes:
measure: Catastrophizing
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Disability
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Fear of movement
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Fear-avoidance beliefs
timeFrame: Baseline
Locations:
city: Aveiro
country: Portugal
facility: School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro
Study officials:
affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro
name: Anabela o Silva
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: