Alexander Technique Neck Pain

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Chronic Non-specific Neck Pain
• Interventions: Behavioral: Alexander Technique; Device: Heat pad application; Behavioral: guided imagery

• Registration Number: NCT02209480
• Lead Sponsor: Universität Duisburg-Essen

Brief Summary

This study aimed to test the efficacy of five Alexander Technique lessons compared to the same period of heat pad application and guided imagery in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain.

Detailed Description

see above

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2007-12
• Primary Completion: 2008-08
• Study Completion: 2008-08
• Study First Submitted: 2014-08-04
• Study First Submitted QC: 2014-08-04
• Study First Posted: 2014-08-06
• Status Verified: 2018-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2018-04-30
• Last Update Posted: 2018-05-02

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 72

Inclusion Criteria

• chronic non-specific neck pain
• at least 3 months
• 40mm pain intensity on visual analog scale

Exclusion Criteria

• neck pain as consequence of disc protrusion or prolapse, whiplash, congenital deformity of the spine, spinal stenosis, neoplasm, inflammatory rheumatic disease, neurological disorder,
• active oncologic disease
• affective disorder
• addiction
• psychosis.
• pregnancy
• invasive treatment of the spine within the previous three weeks
• spinal surgery
• previous experiences in Alexander Technique
• ongoing application for disability pension
• simultaneous participation in other clinical trials on neck pain

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Alexander Technique	Alexander Technique	5 lessons of AT, each lasting up to 45 minutes, weekly intervals The lessons aimed at sensory awareness of everyday movements and movement sequences, such as sitting, walking, lying, or lifting in order to replace habitual patterns using conscious control; and different techniques were applied, such as demonstration, verbal instructions, hands on techniques and others
Heat pad application	Heat pad application	5 treatments by means of a heat pad, 15-0 minutes, sitting or lying position, quiet room Heat pad: Zapp-Sack® contained certain grains and a ginger extract, and could be heated up in the microwave.
guided imagery	guided imagery	guided imagery relaxation technique , 45 minutes, 5 sessions in weekly rhythm including body scan, breathing relaxation, visualization

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
neck pain intensity	5 weeks	neck pain intensity measured on a 100mm visual analog scales; 1. comparison Alexander technique vs. heat pad; 2. comparison Alexander technique vs. guided imagery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
satisfaction	5 weeks	satisfaction measured on a visual analog scale and via questions like "would you consider using it again" or "would you recommend it"
quality of life	5 weeks	quality of life measured by the SF-36 questionnaire
Medication	5 weeks	weekly dose of medication calculated as the defined daily dose according to WHO
functional disability	5 weeks	measured by the neck disability index (NDI)
safety	5 weeks	any adverse event during the study period
Pain on motion	5 weeks	pain on motion (movement of head in different directions) measured by the POM (Lauche, 2014, pain medicine)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, Kliniken Essen-Mitte; 🇩🇪 Essen, Germany