Effectiveness of App-based Relaxation for Patients With Chronic Neck Pain

Inclusion Criteria: * female or male * 18-65 years of age * chronic neck pain for at least 12 weeks * if additional back pain is reported, neck pain has to be predominant * intensity of the average neck pain ≥ 4 on the numeric rating scale (NRS) in the last week * presence of a smartphone (iphone, Android phone) and willingness to do data entry through a smart phone application (App) * physical and mental ability to participate in the study * willingness to be randomized, to apply study intervention according to the protocol, to complete the baseline questionnaire in paper form and electronic questionnaires and diaries provided by a smart phone application * written and oral informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * neck pain caused by a known malignant disease * neck pain caused by trauma * known rheumatic disorder * history or planned surgery of the spinal column of the neck in the next 6 months * known neurological symptoms e.g radicular symptoms because of prolapsed vertebral disc * regular intake of analgesics (\>1x per week) because of additional diseases * intake of centrally acting analgesics * known severe acute or chronic disorder, that do not allow participation in the therapy * other known diseases, that do not allow participation in the therapy * known alcohol or substance abuse * no sufficient German language skills * current application for a benefit * participation in another clinical trial during six months before the study and parallel to the study * conducting regular relaxation techniques, mindfulness training or meditation six weeks before the study or planned in the next 6 months