Chiropractic Care for Neck Pain: Comparing Diversified Technique and Drop Table Method

NCT07034144 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: CMT0007
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 45
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to compare the effects of two different chiropractic techniques, Diversified and Drop Table, on pain levels, cervical joint range of motion, and neck muscle strength in individuals with non-specific neck pain.

Conditions

Spinal Manipulation; Neck Pain; Non Specific Neck Pain; Chiropractic

Keywords

Chiropractic; Neck pain; Drop Table; Spinal Manipulation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ)

  Pain will be assessed using the full version of the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), which evaluates both the sensory, affective, evaluative, and miscellaneous components of pain. The MPQ includes: A list of 78 pain descriptors grouped into 20 categories, The Pain Rating Index (PRI), derived from the sum of rank values for selected descriptors, A Present Pain Intensity (PPI) score, rated on a scale of 0 (no pain) to 5 (excruciating), A Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for overall pain intensity. The primary outcome will be the change in total PRI and PPI scores from baseline to the end of the 4-week intervention. Measure Type: Ordinal and Continuous (PRI: rank-based score; PPI: 0-5 scale) Unit of Measure: Score (no unit)

  Baseline and Week 4

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Cervical Range of Motion

  Baseline and 4th week

• Isometric Neck Muscle Strength

  Baseline and 4th week

Study Arms (3)

Diversified Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive chiropractic treatment using the Diversified Technique. The intervention will be applied twice per week for 4 weeks by a chiropractor. The treatment will focus on cervical spine adjustments targeting areas of joint dysfunction associated with mechanical neck pain. Each session will last approximately 20 minutes. Standardized protocols will be followed to ensure consistency.

Other: Cervical Spine Manipulation

Drop Table Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive chiropractic treatment using the Drop Table Technique. The intervention will be applied twice per week for 4 weeks by a chiropractor. The treatment will involve high-velocity, low-amplitude thrusts delivered with the assistance of a segmented drop table designed to reduce resistance and enhance precision during spinal adjustments. The focus will be on the cervical spine region related to mechanical neck pain. Each session will last approximately 20 minutes, following standardized protocols to ensure treatment consistency.

Other: Drop Table Technique

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

This group did not undergo any interventions.

Interventions

Drop Table Technique OTHER

The Drop Table Technique is a chiropractic intervention that utilizes a segmented treatment table with adjustable sections that can be elevated slightly and then dropped. During the procedure, a high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) thrust is applied while the specific segment of the table drops slightly in coordination with the thrust. This technique aims to reduce the resistance experienced during the adjustment and to enhance the mechanical effect on targeted spinal joints. In this study, the Drop Table Technique will be specifically applied to the cervical spine to address mechanical neck pain. All applications will be performed by a licensed chiropractor using standardized positioning and adjustment protocols to ensure consistency across sessions.

Drop Table Group

Cervical Spine Manipulation OTHER

Cervical spinal manipulation (SM) will be applied with the participant supine to restrictions found on motion palpation, following the technique described by Bergmann and Peterson. The participant's head and neck will be simultaneously rotated and laterally flexed over the contact point-specifically, the posterior supramastoid groove or zygomatic arch (C0-C1), the posterior aspect of the transverse process (C1-C2), or the posterior articular pillar of superior vertebrae (C2-C7)-to the end of passive range of motion (ROM). Subsequently, a high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust will be delivered in the direction of restricted movement. Participants with greater ROM restriction in the lateral plane will receive more laterally-to-medially directed thrusts. Participants with more restriction in rotation will be given thrusts in the direction of restricted axial rotation, and those with more restriction in extension will receive more anteriorly directed thrusts.

Diversified Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Sign a voluntary informed consent form.
• Be between 18 and 65 years of age.
• Have previously consulted an orthopedist or physical therapist for neck pain.
• Have no contraindications to chiropractic interventions.
• Have no history of cervical surgery.
• Report neck pain lasting longer than 7 days.

You may not qualify if:

• Are under 18 or over 65 years of age.
• Have experienced cervical trauma within the last month.
• Have any systemic illness.
• Have any contraindication for chiropractic intervention (e.g., brain tumor, cervical fracture).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• SEFA HAKTAN HATIK: lead

Study Sites (1)

Sinop University

Sinop, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neck Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• SEFA H HATIK, Asst. Prof.

  Sinop University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

SEFA H HATIK, Asst. Prof.

CONTACT

+905058761553; haktanhtk@gmail.com

ÖMER D KIZIL, PhD.

CONTACT

+905415233691; omerdiclekizil@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: This study is designed as a double-blind, randomized controlled trial involving three groups: the Diversified technique group, the Drop Table application group, and a control group. Although the nature of manual therapy prevents complete blinding of participants, all were only informed that they would receive chiropractic care, without specifying the technique applied. Thus, participants were blinded to the specific intervention type. The practitioners administering the treatments were not blinded due to the need to apply the appropriate technique. However, all outcome assessments were performed by an independent evaluator who was blinded to group allocation and not involved in the intervention process, ensuring objective measurement.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Asst. Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 13, 2025
• First Posted: June 24, 2025
• Study Start: June 14, 2025
• Primary Completion: July 14, 2025
• Study Completion: August 14, 2025
• Last Updated: June 24, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)