Active clinical trials for "Neck Pain"

This is a randomized controlled trial to compare the efficacy of Fu's subcutaneous needle (FSN) and Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on chronic neck pain by using more objective assessment tools such as Neck Disability Index, Visual Analog Scales, Pressure Pain Threshold and Myotone of MTrPs of Upper Trapezius Muscles, Range of Motion of Stretch of Upper Trapezius Muscle, and Pittsburgh sleep quality index.

There are different inhibition suboccipital techniques, usually adjuvant of physiotherapy, for treatment of patients with chronic neck pain. In our clinical practice, a favorable effect is observed on patients with chronic neck pain, but there are no published studies evaluating the results of this techniques on pain, mobility and disability. The objective of this trial is to evaluate if the suboccipital manual techniques, provides further improvement in pain intensity, neck disability, range of motion, on patients with chronic mechanical neck pain and rotation deficit of the upper cervical spine, being treated with physiotherapy. For this purpose, investigators conduct a double-blind (patient and evaluator) randomized controlled trial, in a Public Primary Care Center. Seventy four subjects will be randomized (computer application) into three groups: Mobilization Group, Maintained pressure Group and Control Group. All the three groups receive the same protocolized physiotherapeutic treatment during three weeks and, additionally, the Mobilization Group receives six sessions (two sessions in a week during three weeks) of translational dorsal glide mobilization technique grade III of the atlanto-occipital joint and the Maintained pressure Group receives six sessions (two sessions in a week during three weeks) of pressure maintained suboccipital Inhibition technique. The Control Group receives the protocolized physiotherapeutic treatment only. Pain intensity (VAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), Range of motion (CROM), will be measured at baseline, after treatment period, and three months after discharge from treatment. After discharge for treatment the patient subjective opinion about their evolution will be collected through a Global Rating of Change (GROC) scale, and evaluation of headache disability (HIT-6).

Recent studies indicate that the patients with chronic neck pain present decreased activation and weak of neck muscles, especially deep flexor and extensor muscles. Alterations of deep are associated with pain and impairment of neck function in chronic neck pain. Exercise is known to be an important component of treatment programs for patients with neck pain. Recently, many studies have focused on specific training on deep cervical muscles, especially deep cervical flexor and deep cervical extensor muscles.Numerous studies using cranio-cervical flexor exercise as a treatment have revealed reduction on pain, neck disability, changing in activation of deep cervical flexor muscles. Further, the cervical extensor muscles are believed to be equally important for the rehabilitation of patients with neck pain. However, the retention effect of semispinalis cervicis exercise is unknown. Therefore, the semispinalis cervicis exercise still need more evidence to support clinically effects. The current study will be conducted to fill the gap of the previous study in immediately, short, and long term effects of semispinalis cervicis exercise in chronic neck pain.

The aim of the study is to compare two manual therapy techniques. By testing if the Pressure Release of Myofascial Trigger Points technique (PRM) is more effective in treating Myofascial Trigger Points present in the upper trapezius muscle of patients with mechanical cervical pain. This will be compared mainly with another manual therapy technique that presents evidences such as Ischemic Pressure technique (IP), and a control group, through the evaluation of the Visual Analogical Scale (VAS), the Threshold of Pain at Pressure (TPP) and the Northwick Park Questionnaire (NPC) of neck disability, spanish version.

Objective: To investigate the immediate and long-term effects of cervical lordosis restoration and anterior head translation (AHT) correction, on pain, disability, autonomic nervous system function and cervical sensorimotor control in Athletes with Chronic nonspecific neck pain. Methods: 110 (51 female) chronic nonspecific neck patients with a defined hypolordotic cervical spine and AHT posture will be randomly assigned to the control or an experimental group. Both groups will receive a multi-modal program; additionally, the experimental group will receive the denneroll™ cervical traction. Interventions will be applied 3 x per week for 10 weeks. Outcome measures will include absolute rotatory angle (ARA), AHT, neck disability index (NDI), pain intensity, smooth pursuit neck torsion test (SPENT), overall stability index , left and right rotation repositioning accuracy , amplitude and latency of skin sympathetic response . Measures will be assessed at three time intervals: baseline, after 10 weeks of intervention, and at 1-year follow up.

Because changes in sagittal thoracic alignment have been reported to alter the mechanical loading of the cervical spine and decreased thoracic mobility has been identified as one of the predictors for neck and shoulder pain , it makes sense that thoracic articular treatment improves local kinematics and simultaneously neck pain improves. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of a multimodal program, with thoracic hyper kyphosis rehabilitation using the Denneroll™ thoracic traction orthosis , applied to participants with chronic non-specific neck pain and thoracic hyper-kyphosis.

In Spain cervical pain affects practically 20% of the population annually, while globally it is estimated that between 22% and 77% of the population will suffer cervical pain at some point in their life. Prevalence increases with age, and is more common in women than in men (1.6: 1). Although the natural evolution of cervical pain tends to improve, the rates of recurrence and chronicity are high. And therefore it becomes an anatomical region of interest in relation to the assessment of the effectiveness and / or effectiveness of the osteopathic therapeutic approach. Different studies prove the efficacy of various manual therapy techniques applied on the cervical and / or upper dorsal region, suggesting significant positive changes in cervical pain and mobility levels in patients with nonspecific cervical pain. It is necessary to bear in mind that the reality of the osteopathic approach to the patient is not limited to the use of a single technique, but that the treatment is formed from a set of them. The ultimate goal is to restore mobility and functionality to a specific region, especially taking into account the concepts of individuality and holism. A pragmatic experimental comparative trial with three branches of study (osteopathic treatment with 2 different dosages versus active muscle exercise) is proposed.

Objectives: (1) To examine the upper trapezius muscle stiffness using SSI in workers with and without neck/shoulder disorders; and (2) to develop a workplace-based exercise programme to reduce upper trapezius muscle stiffness and to enhance shoulder function and work ability in the working population. Hypotheses to be tested: (1) Workers with neck/shoulder disorders demonstrate increase upper trapezius muscle stiffness when compared to healthy control; and a cutoff value of the upper trapezius stiffness was established for early identification of individuals at risk of having neck/shoulder disorders in the working population; (2) Workplace-based exercise programme can reduce upper trapezius muscle stiffness and enhance shoulder function and work ability in the working population. Design: Part A study: Cross-sectional study; Part B study: randomized controlled trial Subjects: One-hundred office computer workers with or without neck/shoulder pain Study instruments: Supersonic shear wave imaging Main outcome measures: Upper trapezius muscle stiffness, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), Neck Disability Index, Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), work ability index (WAI). Data analysis: Between-group comparisons to show differences in the outcome measures will be analyzed using Independent t-test. To compare the treatment effects, repeated-measures analysis of variance test (between-group factor: intervention vs control; within-subject factor: time (baseline, 6 week and 1 year)). Expected results: Workers with neck/shoulder disorders demonstrate increase upper trapezius muscle stiffness when compared to healthy control. Workplace-based exercise programme can reduce upper trapezius muscle stiffness and enhance shoulder function and work ability in the working population.

Low back pain is a usual condition in the western countries and several treatments available for patients with "non-specific low back pain". According to the European guidelines both Brief intervention and exercise/cognitive intervention are effective treatments with regard to pain and function (www.backpaineurope.org), but none have documented effect on return to work. The challenges for health personnel is not cure of the patients back pain, but to build up rehabilitation programs which focus on disability and work incapacity, in patients which are at risk of loosing their work. Dr. P. Loisel, Montreal, Canada", has since 1995 treated patients with back pain according to the "The PREVICAP model - (PREVention of work handICAP)", where the main purpose with work-related program is to prevent prolonged disability and to help patients back to work. Loisel demonstrated that the PREVICAP models accelerated the "return to work" factor by a factor 2.4 (p=0.01). The PREVICAP model had also been evaluated in Amsterdam, by Dr. Anema with the same results. At the Back Clinic, Ullevål University Hospital we are presently involved in a randomized controlled trial after the PREVICAP model, where patients are randomized to Brief intervention including a work-related intervention or usual care. All included patients in both groups, will have a clinical examination by specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and advice from a physiotherapist. The current study replaces Brief intervention with an exercise - and a work-related program, so patients with non-specific LBP will be randomized to an exercise and work-related program or usual care. The main purpose of this study to investigate if rehabilitation programs specifically focusing on the return to work process will reduce sickness absence and disability pension in patients with neck and low back pain. to assess the work-, individual- and health factors and their interrelationship predicting sickness absence and work disability. to compare results from the rehabilitation program with results from rehabilitation program in Toronto to which extent are the patients met by actions from employers and employment services, and does is influence sickness absence and disability. do these actions represent favourable cost benefit for the work places and the society

The purpose of this study is to compare two techniques for treating patients with Whiplash Associated Disorders, in relation to: disability, balance, cervical pain and cervical range of motion. The hypothesis: The APOS kit treatment is more effective than the short wave therapy.