Cervical spine manipulation has been found to be effective in patients with mechanical neck pain. Discrepancies exist on the side of manipulation and the placebo effect of this manual intervention. In addition, some authors have proposed that spinal manipulation can alter proprioception of the cervical spine. The aim of this study will be to investigate the effects of cervical spine manipulation on pain, disability, widespread pressure pain sensitivity, and cervicokinethesia in patients with mechanical neck pain.
Cervical spine manipulation has been found to be effective in patients with mechanical neck pain. Discrepancies exist on the side of manipulation and the placebo effect of this manual intervention. In addition, some authors have proposed that spinal manipulation can alter proprioception of the cervical spine. The aim of this study will be to investigate the effects of cervical spine manipulation on pain, disability and cervicokinethesia in patients with mechanical neck pain. Patients will receive cervical spine manipulation in either right or left side of the neck and will be assessed on pain intensity, neck-related disability, widespread pressure pain sensitivity, and cervicokinethesia by an assessor blinded to the allocation group.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
55
We will use a high-velocity, mid-range, left rotational force to the right articular pillar of C3, on the right articular pillar of C4 with the patient in supine, with left rotation and right side-bending.
We will use a high-velocity, mid-range, left rotational force to the left articular pillar of C3, on the left articular pillar of C4 with the patient in supine, with right rotation and left side-bending.
The sham procedure will simulate C3/C4 manipulation in both sides without any therapeutic thrust
Cesar Fernandez-de-Las-Peñas
Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
Changes in cervical kinesthetic sense before and after the intervention
The joint position sense error (JPSE) will be calculated to determine cervicokinethesia
Time frame: Baseline and 15 minutes after the intervention
Changes in disability before and after the intervention
The Neck Disability Index (NDI) will be used to determine neck-related disability
Time frame: Baseline and one week after the intervention
Changes in neck pain intensity before and after the intervention
An 11 points numerical pain rate scale (NPRS, 0-10) will be used to assess the intensity of neck pain
Time frame: Baseline and one week after the intervention
Changes in widespread pressure pain sensitivity before and after the intervention
Pressure pain thresholds will be assessed over C5/C6 zygapophyseal joints and the tibialis anterior muscle
Time frame: Baseline and 15 minutes after the intervention
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