Effective treatment for nonspecific chronic neck pain is a clinical challenge. Patients will be randomized into two groups to compare the outcomes of Global Postural Re-education (GPR) with standard manual physical therapy on with respect to pain, function, kinesiophobia, range of motion, perceived effect, and satisfaction.
These study will use two groups: one to receive GPR which is a systematic method of addressing musculoskeletal pain and related functional deficits and the other to receive "usual care" manual PT which will be individualized to the patient's condition. Usual care will include techniques commonly used in clinical practice selected by the physical therapist after initial examination. After nine weeks of treatment, baseline measures will be re-evaluated. After conclusion of the first phase of the study, patients who were randomized to the "usual care" group will cross-over and receive GPR.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
100
Global Postural Re-education is a physical therapy method comprising a series of gentle active movements, implemented by the therapist using manual contacts and verbal commands, to promote postural symmetry.
Standard manual physical therapy in this study involves a combination of exercises, pompage (gentle manual techniques of distraction and articulation of a joint), anterior-posterior mobilizations as described by Maitland, and massage that have been selected to meet the needs of each individual patient.
Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi
Bologna, Emiglia-Romagna, Italy
Pain
The investigators assessed this outcome with a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
Time frame: 9 weeks after start of intervention
Cervical Functional Limitations
The investigators assessed this outcome with the Neck Disability Index.
Time frame: 9 weeks after start of intervention
Kinesiophobia
The investigators assessed this outcome with the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia.
Time frame: 9 weeks after start of intervention
Cervical Range of Motion
The investigators assessed this outcome with the CROM-Deluxe which is an inclinometer that is placed on the subject's head to measure cervical range of motion.
Time frame: 9 weeks after start of intervention
Self-reported Global Effect of the Intervention
The investigators assessed this outcome with a Global Perceived Effect scale which measures the subject's self-reported improvement or deterioration following the intervention.
Time frame: 9 weeks after start of intervention
Patient Satisfaction
The investigators assessed this outcome with the Physical Therapy Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire - Italian Version which has established psychometric properties.
Time frame: 9 weeks after start of intervention
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