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Effectiveness of Neuroscience-based Pain Education in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Cervical Spine Disease
Interventions
Other: Neuroscience-Based Pain Education Combined with Home Exercise Program
Other: Myofascial Induction Techniques Combined with Home Exercise Program
Other: Home Exercises Group
Registration Number
NCT06320938
Lead Sponsor
Turkoglu Dr. Kemal Beyazit State Hospital
Brief Summary

The effectiveness of neuroscience-based pain education, myofascial induction technique, and home exercise programs will be compared in patients with chronic neck pain.

Detailed Description

The study aims to present the immediate and long-term effects of Neuroscience-based Pain Education (NPE) and Myofascial Induction Therapy (MIT). It will evaluate parameters such as pain, quality of life, pain catastrophizing, and neck disability after treatment completion and at the 6-month follow-up.

The investigators aim to illuminate future studies concerning neuroscience-based pain education, which has gained prominence in recent years and continues to increase in importance annually.

The participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups:

1 Group: Neuroscience-Based Pain Education Combined with Home Exercise Program Participants in this group will receive Neuroscience-Based Pain Education (NPE) treatment in addition to the home exercise program. Training sessions will be organized as one-on-one conversation sessions focusing on the neurophysiology of pain, and participants will be reinforced through PowerPoint presentations and visual aids such as pictures, templates, and metaphors.

Group: Myofascial Induction Techniques Combined with Home Exercise Program In addition to the home exercise program, Myofascial Induction Techniques (MIT) group participants will have MIT applied to the cervical and upper thoracic regions.

Group: Home Exercise Program After undergoing general training, participants in this group will be taught an exercise program. The program will include neck muscle stretching, strengthening, and posture exercises.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Ages between 18-60 years old,
  2. Patients with non-specific neck pain for at least 3 months,
  3. Having pain severity of four or more according to the Visual analogue scale (VAS),
  4. Patients with Pain Catastrophizing Scale score > 30
  5. Patients with a Central Sensitization Inventory score > 30
  6. Not having received physiotherapy and manual therapy within the last 3 months,
  7. Those who have not received and will not receive medical treatment in the last 3 months.
Exclusion Criteria
  1. Having a history of neck and spine surgery,
  2. Patients with whiplash injury, fracture history,
  3. Having unstable neurological findings,
  4. Presence of a pathology such as hernia and root compression in the cervical region,
  5. Those who regularly use analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs,
  6. A communication problem may prevent the implementation of the evaluations or treatment program.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Neuroscience-Based Pain Education Combined with Home Exercise ProgramNeuroscience-Based Pain Education Combined with Home Exercise ProgramPatients in this group will receive Neuroscience-Based Pain Education (NPE) treatment in addition to the home exercise program. Training sessions are planned once a week for an average of 35-45 minutes and 8 sessions. NPE will be performed by a physiotherapist who has an internationally recognized certificate in this regard. Training sessions will be organized as one-on-one conversation sessions focusing on the neurophysiology of pain, and patients will be reinforced through PowerPoint presentations and visual pictures, templates, and metaphors.
Myofascial Induction Techniques Combined with Home Exercise ProgramMyofascial Induction Techniques Combined with Home Exercise ProgramIn addition to the home exercise program, Myofascial Induction Techniques (MIT) group patients will have MIT applied to the cervical and upper thoracic regions by a physiotherapist trained and experienced in myofascial treatments. The application will be once a week for 8 weeks, with an average duration of 35-45 minutes.
Home Exercise ProgramHome Exercises GroupPatients in this group will be taught an exercise program after undergoing general training. Exercises will include stretching and strengthening exercises for neck muscles and posture exercises. Patients are asked to take 35-45 minutes once a day, five days a week, for 8 weeks. They will be asked to do the given home exercises and fill out follow-up charts. The continuity of the exercises will be ensured by sending reminder messages to this group of patients once a week by the physiotherapist about doing their exercises.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality IndexBaseline,8 weeks, 6 months

This survey contains 24 questions about sleep status, both during the day and at night. Nineteen of these are to be answered personally, and five are to be answered by a spouse or roommate.

Neck Disability IndexBaseline,8 weeks, 6 months

The scale consists of ten headings in total. It includes neck pain intensity, personal care, lifting, reading, headaches, concentration, driving, sleep, and leisure activities.

Algometric Digital MeasurementBaseline,8 weeks, 6 months

It is a digital device used to evaluate trigger point sensitivity.

Central Sensitization InventoryBaseline,8 weeks, 6 months

The scale, which can be applied in chronic pain, is used in central sensitization syndromes. It consists of two parts. Section A questions health-related symptoms, and part B questions whether any central sensitization syndromes have been diagnosed before.

Head Posture EvaluationBaseline,8 weeks, 6 months

Forward head posture is measured with a goniometer, which measures the angle between the horizontal plane and the seventh cervical vertebra and ear line.

36-Item Short Form Health Survey QuestionnaireBaseline,8 weeks, 6 months

36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire consists of eight subscales: physical functioning, social functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, pain, vitality, mental health, and general health perception. Each subscale is scored from 0 to 100, and the scores from these subscales are not summed. A high score indicates good health status.

Pain Catastrophizing ScaleBaseline,8 weeks, 6 months

The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) is a 13-item self-report measure of catastrophizing in the context of actual or anticipated pain. The PCS measures catastrophizing as a multidimensional construct with three subscales: rumination, magnification, and helplessness. Rumination focuses on thoughts related to pain, helplessness reflects feelings of helplessness in coping with a painful situation, and magnification is a general view of the threat of pain. High PCS scores are associated with greater pain and more functional impairment. A total score above 30 represents clinically significant levels of pain catastrophizing.

Short Form McGill Pain QuestionnaireBaseline,8 weeks, 6 months

A short form of the McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) used in pain assessment consists of four sections. In the first section, participants are asked to mark the location of pain on a body diagram. In the second section, participants are asked to select the word that best describes their pain from twenty subgroups. The third section investigates the relationship of pain over time, while the fourth and final section requires participants to indicate the intensity of pain on a scale of 1 to 5 and provide written responses to six questions. The questionnaire is scored from 0 to 112. The higher the pain score, the greater the pain.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Türkoğlu Dr. Kemal Beyazıt State Hospital

🇹🇷

KahramanmaraÅŸ, Turkey

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