Study on the Effect of Cervical Mobilization on Motor Function and Pressure Pain Threshold in Pain Free Individuals

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Neck Pain
• Interventions: Other: Manual contact; Other: Passive cervical mobilisation

• Registration Number: NCT01161758
• Lead Sponsor: Curtin University

Brief Summary

Passive accessory cervical mobilization is widely used as a clinical approach to the management of musculoskeletal pain of spinal origin. The purpose of the study is to determine if passive cervical mobilization can improve motor function in situations where motor performance is not impaired by the presence of pain.

Detailed Description

Cervical mobilization has been shown to elicit effects on pain perception, autonomic function and motor function in subjects who experience musculoskeletal pain. The improvement in motor function may be a direct effect of the treatment or secondary to a hypoalgesic effect. This study aims to demonstrate whether it is possible to alter motor function following joint mobilization, in situations where motor performance is not impaired by pain.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2005-04
• Primary Completion: 2005-10
• Status Verified: 2005-11
• Study Completion: 2005-12
• Study First Submitted: 2010-07-08
• Study First Submitted QC: 2010-07-13
• Last Update Submitted: 2010-07-13
• Study First Posted: 2010-07-14
• Last Update Posted: 2010-07-14

Recruitment & Eligibility

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

Inclusion Criteria

• No history of neck or back pain over the last six months
• Without any previous experience with spinal manual therapy techniques

Exclusion Criteria

• History of musculoskeletal or rheumatologic conditions
• Any kind of spinal surgery
• Dizziness
• Previous trauma to the cervical spine
• Neurological signs or symptoms

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Manual contact	Manual contact	Manual contact control, which involved light manual contact on the left C5/C6 segment as if to perform the treatment technique.
Passive cervical mobilisation	Passive cervical mobilisation	Grade III cervical mobilization technique as described by Maitland. Applied to left C5/6 Segment.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Electromyography of sternocleidomastoid muscle.	Pre intervention (baseline) and 1 minute post intervention	Measurement of sternocleidomastoid muscle activation during deep neck flexion. The degree of neck flexion is determined by a pressure biofeedback unit place underneath the neck. EMG of the left and right sternocleidomastoids are recorded for 5seconds at each level of neck flexion

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Pressure pain threshold	Pre intervention (baseline) and 1 minute post intervention	The algometer to measure pressure pain threshold was applied at a constant rate of 40 kPa/sec on the posterior aspect of the left and right articular pillar of C5/C6.