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Alexander Technique Neck Pain (ATNeck)

Primary Purpose

Chronic Non-specific Neck Pain

Status
Completed
Phase
Not Applicable
Locations
Germany
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Alexander Technique
Heat pad application
guided imagery
Sponsored by
Universität Duisburg-Essen
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Chronic Non-specific Neck Pain

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - 50 Years (Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  • chronic non-specific neck pain
  • at least 3 months
  • 40mm pain intensity on visual analog scale

Exclusion Criteria:

  • neck pain as consequence of disc protrusion or prolapse, whiplash, congenital deformity of the spine, spinal stenosis, neoplasm, inflammatory rheumatic disease, neurological disorder,
  • active oncologic disease
  • affective disorder
  • addiction
  • psychosis.
  • pregnancy
  • invasive treatment of the spine within the previous three weeks
  • spinal surgery
  • previous experiences in Alexander Technique
  • ongoing application for disability pension
  • simultaneous participation in other clinical trials on neck pain

Sites / Locations

  • Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, Kliniken Essen-Mitte

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm 3

Arm Type

Experimental

Active Comparator

Active Comparator

Arm Label

Alexander Technique

Heat pad application

guided imagery

Arm Description

5 lessons of AT, each lasting up to 45 minutes, weekly intervals The lessons aimed at sensory awareness of everyday movements and movement sequences, such as sitting, walking, lying, or lifting in order to replace habitual patterns using conscious control; and different techniques were applied, such as demonstration, verbal instructions, hands on techniques and others

5 treatments by means of a heat pad, 15-0 minutes, sitting or lying position, quiet room Heat pad: Zapp-Sack® contained certain grains and a ginger extract, and could be heated up in the microwave.

guided imagery relaxation technique , 45 minutes, 5 sessions in weekly rhythm including body scan, breathing relaxation, visualization

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

neck pain intensity
neck pain intensity measured on a 100mm visual analog scales comparison Alexander technique vs. heat pad comparison Alexander technique vs. guided imagery

Secondary Outcome Measures

quality of life
quality of life measured by the SF-36 questionnaire
Pain on motion
pain on motion (movement of head in different directions) measured by the POM (Lauche, 2014, pain medicine)
Medication
weekly dose of medication calculated as the defined daily dose according to WHO
functional disability
measured by the neck disability index (NDI)
satisfaction
satisfaction measured on a visual analog scale and via questions like "would you consider using it again" or "would you recommend it"
safety
any adverse event during the study period

Full Information

First Posted
August 4, 2014
Last Updated
April 30, 2018
Sponsor
Universität Duisburg-Essen
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT02209480
Brief Title
Alexander Technique Neck Pain
Acronym
ATNeck
Official Title
Randomized Controlled Trial on the Efficacy of F.M. Alexander Technique in Chronic Neck Pain Patients
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
April 2018
Overall Recruitment Status
Completed
Study Start Date
December 2007 (undefined)
Primary Completion Date
August 2008 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
August 2008 (Actual)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Principal Investigator
Name of the Sponsor
Universität Duisburg-Essen

4. Oversight

Data Monitoring Committee
No

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
This study aimed to test the efficacy of five Alexander Technique lessons compared to the same period of heat pad application and guided imagery in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain.
Detailed Description
see above

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Chronic Non-specific Neck Pain

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Not Applicable
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
None (Open Label)
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
72 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Alexander Technique
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
5 lessons of AT, each lasting up to 45 minutes, weekly intervals The lessons aimed at sensory awareness of everyday movements and movement sequences, such as sitting, walking, lying, or lifting in order to replace habitual patterns using conscious control; and different techniques were applied, such as demonstration, verbal instructions, hands on techniques and others
Arm Title
Heat pad application
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Description
5 treatments by means of a heat pad, 15-0 minutes, sitting or lying position, quiet room Heat pad: Zapp-Sack® contained certain grains and a ginger extract, and could be heated up in the microwave.
Arm Title
guided imagery
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Description
guided imagery relaxation technique , 45 minutes, 5 sessions in weekly rhythm including body scan, breathing relaxation, visualization
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Alexander Technique
Intervention Type
Device
Intervention Name(s)
Heat pad application
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
guided imagery
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
neck pain intensity
Description
neck pain intensity measured on a 100mm visual analog scales comparison Alexander technique vs. heat pad comparison Alexander technique vs. guided imagery
Time Frame
5 weeks
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
quality of life
Description
quality of life measured by the SF-36 questionnaire
Time Frame
5 weeks
Title
Pain on motion
Description
pain on motion (movement of head in different directions) measured by the POM (Lauche, 2014, pain medicine)
Time Frame
5 weeks
Title
Medication
Description
weekly dose of medication calculated as the defined daily dose according to WHO
Time Frame
5 weeks
Title
functional disability
Description
measured by the neck disability index (NDI)
Time Frame
5 weeks
Title
satisfaction
Description
satisfaction measured on a visual analog scale and via questions like "would you consider using it again" or "would you recommend it"
Time Frame
5 weeks
Title
safety
Description
any adverse event during the study period
Time Frame
5 weeks

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
50 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: chronic non-specific neck pain at least 3 months 40mm pain intensity on visual analog scale Exclusion Criteria: neck pain as consequence of disc protrusion or prolapse, whiplash, congenital deformity of the spine, spinal stenosis, neoplasm, inflammatory rheumatic disease, neurological disorder, active oncologic disease affective disorder addiction psychosis. pregnancy invasive treatment of the spine within the previous three weeks spinal surgery previous experiences in Alexander Technique ongoing application for disability pension simultaneous participation in other clinical trials on neck pain
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, Kliniken Essen-Mitte
City
Essen
ZIP/Postal Code
45276
Country
Germany

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Citations:
PubMed Identifier
25834276
Citation
Lauche R, Schuth M, Schwickert M, Ludtke R, Musial F, Michalsen A, Dobos G, Choi KE. Efficacy of the Alexander Technique in treating chronic non-specific neck pain: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2016 Mar;30(3):247-58. doi: 10.1177/0269215515578699. Epub 2015 Mar 31.
Results Reference
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Alexander Technique Neck Pain

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