NCT04406753

Brief Summary

Restrictions on upper cervical spine are associated with cervical pain. The vast majority of upper cervical spine rotation occurs at the C1-2 segment. Flexion-rotation test is a valid measure that predominantly measures rotation in C1-2 segment, however upper cervical spine rotation also implies C0-1 and C2-3 due to ligament anatomy. Restriction in flexion-rotation may be due to direct restriction in C1-2, but also to a premature tightening of the alar ligament as a result of lack of movement in C0-1 or C2-3. The objective is to compare the effect of a 20-minutes single cervical exercise session with or without manual therapy of C0-1 and C2-3 segment in flexion-rotation test in patients with chronic neck pain and positive flexion-rotation test. To carry out the objective, the following will be designed a randomized controlled assessor-blind clinical trial with primary healthcare patients. This population will be patients with chronic neck pain and positive flexion-rotation test. These patients will be assigned in manual therapy + exercise group or in exercise group. Exercise will be focused on deep anterior cervical muscles. Manual therapy will combine techniques in C0-1 and C2-3 with this exercise. Flexion-rotation test, neck pain intensity, pain intensity during the flexion-rotation test and cervical range of motion will be measured before and after the intervention.

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
48

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Jun 2020

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
unknown

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 20, 2020

Completed
8 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 28, 2020

Completed
4 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 1, 2020

Completed
1 month until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

July 1, 2020

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

July 1, 2020

Completed
Last Updated

May 28, 2020

Status Verified

May 1, 2020

Enrollment Period

1 month

First QC Date

May 20, 2020

Last Update Submit

May 22, 2020

Conditions

Keywords

manual therapyneck painexerciserestriction

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Flexion-rotation test

    This test is used to see the amount of movement of the upper cervical spine and is the test most used in the literature. It is positive when there is a decrease of 10 degrees or more in the cervical rotation with maximum flexion, in a sense with respect to the contralateral or presents hypomobility of segment C1 with a mobility less than 33º

    Change between baseline(immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

  • Neck pain intensity with Numeric Pain Rating Scale

    Change between baseline(immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention)

  • Pain intensity during the flexion-rotation test with Numeric Pain Rating Scale

    Change between baseline(immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention)

  • Cervical range of motion

    Change between baseline(immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention)

Study Arms (2)

Manual Therapy + Exercise Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Manual Therapy + Exercise group will carry out 20-minute session of treatment. The techniques will be applied depending on the clinical findings in each patient and the objective will be to restore the function of C0-1 and C2-3 segments before applying cervical exercises. We will use manipulation (high velocity low amplitude) and/or mobilization (low velocity high amplitude) techniques of C0-1 and C2-3 segments with cervical exercise. Manipulations will be in the direction of traction, with the head in a neutral position. A maximum of two trials at each level on each side will perform (2-6 thrusts). Mobilization will be performed for 5 minutes using repeating cycles of 45 seconds of mobilization and 15 seconds of rest. The cervical exercise will perform by this group will follow the same methodology as the Exercise group.

Other: Manual therapy techniques in C0-1 and C2-3 with cervical exercise

Exercise Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

This group will perform the cervical stabilization exercise. They will be teach to perform the contraction of deep neck flexor muscle activity with the help of the Stabilizer Pressure Biofeedback Unit (Chattanooga, USA) in supine. Exercise will be always carry out without pain, because pain can be an inhibitor of muscle contraction. The Exercise group will carry out one 20-minute session, composed of 2 sets of 10 repetitions, holding each repetition for 10 seconds, a 40-second rest between each repetition and 2 minutes between sets.

Other: Cervical Exercise

Interventions

Manual Therapy + Exercise group will carry out 20-minute session of treatment. The techniques will be applied depending on the clinical findings in each patient and the objective will be to restore the function of C0-1 and C2-3 segments before applying cervical exercises. We will use manipulation (high velocity low amplitude) and/or mobilization (low velocity high amplitude) techniques of C0-1 and C2-3 segments with cervical exercise. Manipulations will be in the direction of traction, with the head in a neutral position. A maximum of two trials at each level on each side will perform (2-6 thrusts). Mobilization will be performed for 5 minutes using repeating cycles of 45 seconds of mobilization and 15 seconds of rest. The cervical exercise will perform by this group will follow the same methodology as the Exercise group.

Manual Therapy + Exercise Group

This group will perform the cervical stabilization exercise. They will be teach to perform the contraction of deep neck flexor muscle activity with the help of the Stabilizer Pressure Biofeedback Unit (Chattanooga, USA) in supine. Exercise will be always carry out without pain, because pain can be an inhibitor of muscle contraction. The Exercise group will carry out one 20-minute session, composed of 2 sets of 10 repetitions, holding each repetition for 10 seconds, a 40-second rest between each repetition and 2 minutes between sets.

Exercise Group

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 90 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • A medical diagnosis of chronic neck pain with more than 3 months of evolution.
  • A positive result in the flexion-rotation test (less than 33º or a difference of 10º or more between the two rotations).
  • Being over 18 years old.
  • Having signed the informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

  • Contraindications for manual therapy or exercise.
  • Having participated in exercise or manual therapy programs in the last three months.
  • Presenting warning signs or having suffered a relevant neck trauma.
  • An inability to maintain supine position.
  • The use of pacemakers (the magnets in the CROM device could alter their signal)
  • An inability to perform flexion-rotation test
  • Language difficulties.
  • Pending litigation or lawsuits.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Universidad de Zaragoza

Zaragoza, 50009, Spain

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neck PainMotor Activity

Interventions

Nucleolin

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

PainNeurologic ManifestationsSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsBehavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

RNA-Binding ProteinsCarrier ProteinsProteinsAmino Acids, Peptides, and ProteinsNuclear ProteinsNucleoproteins

Central Study Contacts

Jacobo Rodríguez-Sanz, PhD

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 20, 2020

First Posted

May 28, 2020

Study Start

June 1, 2020

Primary Completion

July 1, 2020

Study Completion

July 1, 2020

Last Updated

May 28, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-05

Locations