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Efficacy of Osteopathic Visceral Treatment in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain

Not Applicable
Not yet recruiting
Conditions
Cervical Pain
Interventions
Other: Sham technique
Other: Diaphragm, Stomach and Liver techniques
Other: Stomach and Liver techniques
Registration Number
NCT05914129
Lead Sponsor
Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto
Brief Summary

This study aims to analyze the effects of visceral osteopathic treatment of the diaphragm, stomach and liver in the treatment of chronic neck pain.

Detailed Description

Cervical pain is a very common condition, whom can originate from bad posture, cervical tension, anxiety, depression and occupational or sportive activities. The influence of mobility and function changes of the abdominal viscera in the cervical region is a mechanism that is still poorly described in literature.

It is expected to find, through mechanical and neural pathways, that the visceral osteopathy treatment will have some effect on chronic neck pain.

This study intends to check the effects of the diaphragm stretching, inferior mobilization of the stomach and liver pump techniques (restoring mobility and normalizing function of the viscera) on the neck region, by employing some questionnaires/instruments.

During the present study, the effects of the visceral techniques will be analyzed in the following variables: Neck Disability Index (NDI), Numeric Pain Scale (NPS or END) and Global Pain Scale (GPS or EPGM).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
45
Inclusion Criteria
  • Pain in the posterior cervical region for more than 3 months;
  • Knowing how to read and write;
Exclusion Criteria
  • Recent Cervicothoracic or Thoracoabdominal trauma (less than 6 months);
  • Surgical procedure in the cervical region less than 6 months ago
  • Surgical procedure in the abdominal region less than 6 months ago;
  • Diagnosis of disc disease/radiculopathy;
  • Rheumatic and/or neurological disease;
  • Pregnancy status

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Control Group (GC)Sham techniqueTo each volunteer, after 2 questionnaires, sham techniques will be performed to this group. The investigator will mimic the technique contacts without actually performing any type of tissue traction or compression, maintaining contact for the same amount of time described in the refered techniques. Following the technique, volunteers will answer the same 2 questionnaires shown previously.
Experimental Group A (GEA)Diaphragm, Stomach and Liver techniquesTo each volunteer, after 2 questionnaires, Diaphragm Stretching, Lower stomach mobilization and Liver pump techniques will be performed to this group. The diaphragm technique is performed 2 times with 1 minute interval, with the duration of 10 respiratory cycles. The lower stomach mobilization and liver pump techniques are performed one time, for 5 minutes each. Following the technique, volunteers will answer the same 2 questionnaires shown previously.
Experimental Group B (GEB)Stomach and Liver techniquesTo each volunteer, after 2 questionnaires, Lower stomach mobilization and Liver pump techniques will be performed to this group. These 2 techniques are the same ones as described for the experimental group A. Following the technique, volunteers will answer the same 2 questionnaires shown previously.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in level of incapacity derived from neck pain 7 days after the intervention7 days after the intervention

The Neck Disability Index questionnaire (NDI) will be the instrument used to evaluate the level of incapacity caused by neck pain. The questionnaire has 10 questions about the volunteers everyday life activities. There are 6 options to each question and the participant must choose the one that applies the most to their experience. The options selected will account for a score that goes from 0 to 50. The higher the number of the option, the more incapacity is felt and reported by the participant, meaning a worse outcome.

This data will be collected by asking the volunteer their preferred option and writing it down.

Change in level of pain throughout the 7 days following the interventionOnce a day for the 7 days after the intervention

The pain outcome will be measured according to the volunteers perception of pain in the cervical region by using the Numerical Pain Scale (NPS). This scale ranges from 0 to 10 and the participant must choose one number that best suits their level of current pain, 0 corresponding to "no pain" and 10 being "the worst pain imaginable to that participant". The higher the number, the worse the outcome.

This data will be collected by asking the volunteer for the corresponding number and writing it down.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in perception of the global conditions throughout the 7 days following the interventionOnce a day for the 7 days after the intervention

One week after the intervention, the participants must answer the Global Perception of Change Scale (GPCS), which presents 7 options (from 1 to 7). The higher the number of the option, the more change was perceived and reported by the participant, meaning a better outcome. This instrument will guide the researcher to better understand if the intervention resulted in any kind of change to their initial condition.

This data will be collected by asking the volunteer their preferred option and writing it down.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Escola Superior da Saúde do Porto

🇵🇹

Porto, Portugal

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