MedPath

The Effects of Exercise Therapy for Flexor and Extensor Cervical Muscles on Non-specific Neck Pain.

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Neck Pain
Chronic Pain
Interventions
Other: Neck extensors training versus deep cervical flexors training, compared to a control group.
Registration Number
NCT04193423
Lead Sponsor
University of Jaén
Brief Summary

Objective:

To compare the effects craniocervical and cervicothoracic extension training versus deep cervical flexor training, both combined with conventional treatment, on disability, perceived pain, Health-related quality of life (HRQoL), endurance, active range of motion (AROM) of the cervical spine, joint position sense (JPS) and intake of drugs in subjects with non-specific chronic neck pain, referenced by the control group.

Methods:

The research will be done from December 2019 to August 2020 at the Recoletas Burgos Hospital.

Fifty-four volunteers with non-specific chronic neck pain, recruited at the hospital, will be randomly assigned, using sealed envelopes, to 1 of the three groups.

The first two experimental groups will be named Group A and Group B and each of them will go to the Rehabilitation Service for 4 weeks to perform the exercises under the supervision of the physiotherapist. This process will occur along with the conventional treatment (infrared heat, massage and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation). These groups will differ between them in the muscles they will mainly train through training. The group A will perform a neck extensor muscles training and group B a deep cervical flexor muscles training. After these 4 weeks, these exercises will be performed by them on a daily routine which will be prescribed for 6 months at home.

On the control group (group C), no intervention will be performed due to the fact that they will be still on the waiting list.

Disability, pain, HRQoL and drug intake will be measured in pre-treatment, at 4 weeks (post-treatment) and at 6 months follow-up; endurance, AROM and JPS will be measured in pre-treatment and at 4 weeks (post-treatment); while demographic variables (height, weight and age) will only be measured at the baseline.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
54
Inclusion Criteria
  • non-specific neck pain (NSNP) for at least 3 months prior intervention commencement,
  • age between 18 and 65 years,
  • sedentary lifestyle,
  • score > 5/50 on the Neck Disability Index (NDI) or score > 2 on the Numeric Rating Scale (NPRS) whose symptoms are not increased performing the exercises proposed in the study,
  • limitation in the Active Range of cervical Motion (AROM) in flexion, extension, lateral inclination and/or rotation.
Exclusion Criteria
  • previous neck surgery,
  • neck pain associated with whiplash injuries,
  • subjects who ave received physical therapy 3 months prior intervention commencement,
  • dizziness in the quadruped position, supine position, sitting or performing neck movements,
  • pain in other parts od the body that prevents the performance of the exercises proposed in the study,
  • neck pain accompanied by vertigo caused by vertebrobasilar insufficiency or pain accompanied by non-cervicogenic headaches,
  • neck pain with cervical radiculopathy and/or externalized cervical disc herniation,
  • red flags: fracture, tumor or cervical infection or diagnosis of osteoporosis, metabolic diseases or rheumatoid arthritis,
  • myopathy, ankylosing spondylitis or fibromyalgia,
  • central nervous system involvement,
  • pregnant women,
  • severe psychiatric oe psychological disorders,
  • subjects with pending legal action,
  • not understand, write and speak spanish fluently.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
C-Group: control groupNeck extensors training versus deep cervical flexors training, compared to a control group.No intervention will be performed due to the fact that they will be still on the waiting list.
B-Group: craniocervical flexion trainingNeck extensors training versus deep cervical flexors training, compared to a control group.-
A-Group: craniocervical and cervicothoracic extension trainingNeck extensors training versus deep cervical flexors training, compared to a control group.-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Pain related disabilityBaseline, 1 month (primary timepoint) and 6 months after intervention.

using the Neck Disability Index (NDI) Questionnaire

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Joint Position Sense (JPS)Baseline and 1 month (primary timepoint).

Using a target and a rule

Change in Neck painBaseline, 1 month (primary timepoint) and 6 months after intervention.

Using a Numeric Rating Scale (NPRS) from 0 to 10

Change in Health-related quality of life (HRQoL)Baseline, 1 month (primary timepoint) and 6 months after intervention.

using the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire.

Change in Neck muscles enduranceBaseline and 1 month (primary timepoint).

Using the modified Neck Extensor Endurance test (NEE test) proposed by Lee el al. (2005) or the Neck Flexor Muscle Endurance Test (NFME test) with a chronometer and a BDI

Change in Frequency of use of drugsBaseline, 1 month (primary timepoint) and 6 months after intervention.

Using a shelf-completed drug registration document

Change in Active Range of cervical Motion (AROM)Baseline and 1 month (primary timepoint).

Using a digital inclinometer

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Recoletas Burgos Hospital

🇪🇸

Burgos, Spain

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath