Effects of Craniosacral Therapy on Chronic Neck Pain

Universität Duisburg-Essen54 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to determinate the efficacy and safety of Craniosacral Therapy in the treatment of chronic unspecific neck pain.

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a variation of osteopathic manipulation with an integrative approach. By soft manual palpation of the craniosacral and fascia system sensory, motor, cognitive, and emotional processes can be influenced. In the prevention and treatment of chronic pain syndromes Craniosacral Therapy is demonstrated to be effective in clinical practice and quite a few scientific trials. But yet there are no randomized controlled studies concerning to chronic neck pain. So the aim of this study is to investigate whether a total of 8 CST units of 45 minutes will be effective in patients suffering from chronic nonspecific neck pain in contrast to sham therapy of the same extent. The prospective study design includes measurement points at baseline, post treatment, and 3 months follow-up.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Neck Pain

Interventions

Craniosacral TherapyPROCEDURE

Standardized therapy protocol (according to Upledger): Still point technique, diaphragm release, compression-decompression and lift techniques of the cranial bones, facial balancing in the region of shoulder and pelvis and somato-emotional unwinding

Sham Craniosacral TherapyPROCEDURE

Standardized sham protocol: Placing hands on various parts of the clothed body for two minutes each time without therapeutic intention

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Chronic unspecific neck pain for at least 3 months * Mean neck pain of moderate intensity (\>/=45mm on VAS) * Therapy-naive subjects Exclusion Criteria: * Specific neck pain due to severe deformity of the spine, prolapse, rheumatic or neurological disorder, trauma, operation or cancer * other severe somatic or psychiatric comorbidity * pregnancy * regular intake of opiates, corticosteroids (\>10mg prednisolon), muscle relaxants or antidepressants * recent invasive or manipulative treatment of the spine * participation in other clinical trials

Locations (1)

Kliniken Essen-Mitte

Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Pain intensity

Pain intensity on a 100mm visual analogue scale (VAS)

Time frame: week 8

Secondary Outcomes

Pain intensity in motion

Pain intensity induced by flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation of the head on a 100mm visual analogue scale (VAS)

Time frame: week 8

Pressure pain threshold

Pressure pain threshold (PPT) measured with an algometer on predefined muscles and the pain maximum

Time frame: week 8

Disability

Measured by the Neck Disability Indx (NDI)

Time frame: week 8

Quality of life

Measured by the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12)

Time frame: week 8

Well being

Measured by the Questionnaire for Assessing Subjective Physical Well-Being (FEW-16)

Time frame: week 8

Anxiety and depression

Measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)

Time frame: week 8

Stress perception

Measured by the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ-20)

Time frame: week 8

Pain acceptance

Measured by the Emotional and Rational Disease Acceptance Questionnaire (ERDA)

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.