Effectiveness of Manual Therapy in Patients With Neck Pain. (NECKproject)
Neck Pain
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Neck Pain focused on measuring Neck Pain, Manuel Therapy Utrecht, Physiotherapy
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients with at least two weeks of neck pain
- Last episode starts at a maximum of one year ago
- Age between 18 and 70 years
- Patient is willing to undergo the treatment
- Neck pain is mechanical and can be provocated by movements or postures of the neck
- Neck pain is the main problem to treat
- Neck pain may also give pain in the upper arm or cervicogenic headaches
Exclusion Criteria:
- Appearance of "red flags"
- Cervical surgery in the past
- Pregnancy
- Whiplash trauma
- Health conditions with may disturb the treatment or makes it impossible to undergo the treatment.
- Not enough understanding of the Dutch questionnaires
- Undergoing treatments like physical therapy, manual therapy, osteopathy, chiropraxis, acupuncture, other types of exercise therapy during the last three months
Sites / Locations
- NECKproject.nl
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
1 Manual Therapy Utrecht
2 Physical Therapy - Exercise Therapy
Manual Therapy Utrecht (MTU) During the first consultation the manual therapist enquires about the complaints of the patient. The manual therapist conducts a number of measurements according to protocol. During treatment preferred movements are executed by the manual therapist in the patient's joints. The treatment techniques used by the manual therapist are very gentle mobilizations, without high velocity thrust techniques and are in general painless. In Manual Therapy Utrecht (MTU) it is common to give advices and recommend exercises. A treatment session lasts between 30 and 60 minutes (repeated after one or two weeks). The maximum number of sessions is six. The manual therapist has a minimum of five years of working experience.
The physical therapist conducts a complaint related function examination. Treatment consist of active exercises, manual traction or stretching and massage. The aims of active exercises are improvement of strength, mobility and movement coordination. Specific mobilization techniques are not a part of physiotherapeutic treatment. Treatment sessions take place no more than twice a week with a maximum of nine sessions (approximately 30 minutes) with a minimum of twenty minutes on active exercise therapy combined with instruction. To prevent overlap with MTU (experimental arm), physical therapists are selected who are not (also) trained as manual therapists or have started this education. The physical therapist has at least five years of working experience.