Using fMRI to Determine if Cerebral Hemodynamic Responses to Pain Change Following Thoracic Spine Manipulation in Individuals With Mechanical Neck Pain

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Neck Pain
• Interventions: Other: Thoracic spine manipulation

• Registration Number: NCT01862705
• Lead Sponsor: OSF Healthcare System

Brief Summary

Thoracic spine thrust manipulation (TSM) has been shown to be an effective intervention in the management of patients with neck pain. However the mechanisms for pain relief associated with this intervention remain largely unexplained. Recent evidence suggests structures within the brain may have a role in creating responses of pain relief. This study aims to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to determine if there is a change in blood flow to structures within the brain following TSM in patients with neck pain. All patients will undergo fMRI while receiving painful stimuli directed to two separate sites, the cuticle of the index finger and the great toe. Subjects will then receive either TSM or sham-manipulation and then immediately undergo a second fMRI scan receiving the same painful stimuli. The primary outcome of interest is the shift in blood flow within the brain before and after TSM or sham manipulation as measured by Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) technology. This study will be the first to examine this type of response to manual therapy within the brain in patients with neck pain.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2013-05
• Study First Submitted: 2013-05-09
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-05-22
• Study First Posted: 2013-05-24
• Primary Completion: 2014-10
• Study Completion: 2014-10
• Status Verified: 2015-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-05-12
• Last Update Posted: 2015-05-13

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 24

Inclusion Criteria

• Primary complaint of mechanical neck pain of less than 6 weeks in duration as identified in the patient's initial physical examination. Mechanical neck pain is defined as generalized neck and/or shoulder, peri-scapular pain with symptoms provoked by neck postures, neck movements, or palpation of the cervical musculature

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Exclusion Criteria

• Any medical red flags suggestive of non-musculoskeletal origin of pain, such as metabolic disorders, osteoporosis, tumor, and/or rheumatoid arthritis
• No contraindications to spinal mobilization
• No contraindications to MRI (claustrophobia, presence of cardiac pacemakers, cochlear implants, metal implants, implanted hearing aids, and previous injuries caused by bullets or shrapnel, pregnancy or thought to be pregnant

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Thoracic spine manipulation non-thrust	Thoracic spine manipulation	Thoracic spine manipulation non-thrust
Thoracic spine manipulation thrust	Thoracic spine manipulation	Thoracic spine manipulation thrust

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
BOLD response to noxious stimuli	Immediately following TSM or sham-manipulation. Time frame to initiate MR scanning following thrust or sham-manipulation not to exceed 5 minutes.	shift in blood flow within the brain before and after TSM or sham manipulation as measured by Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) technology, as measured by fMRI.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

OSF Saint Francis Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Peoria, Illinois, United States