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Chronic neck pain is a major public health problem with very few evidence-based complementary treatment options. This study aimed to test the efficacy of 12 weeks of a partner-delivered home-based cupping massage, compared to the same period of progressive muscle relaxation in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain. Patients were randomly assigned to self-directed cupping massage or progressive muscle relaxation. They were trained and asked to undertake the assigned treatment twice weekly for 12 weeks. Primary outcome measure was the current neck pain intensity (0-100 mm visual analog scale; VAS) after 12 weeks. Secondary outcome measures included pain on motion, affective pain perception, functional disability, psychological distress, wellbeing, health-related quality of life, pressure pain thresholds and adverse events. Sixty one patients (54.1±12.7 years; 73.8%female) were randomized to cupping massage (n = 30) or progressive muscle relaxation (n = 31). After treatment, both groups showed significantly less pain compared to baseline however without significant group differences. Significant effects in favor of cupping massage were only found for wellbeing and pressure pain thresholds. In conclusion, cupping massage is no more effective than progressive muscle relaxation in reducing chronic non-specific neck pain. Both therapies can be easily used at home and can reduce pain to a minimal clinically relevant extent. Cupping massage may however be better than PMR in improving well-being and decreasing pressure pain sensitivity but more studies with larger samples and longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm these results. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01500330.

Background The investigation aimed to assess the impacts of magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) iontophoresis and high-power pain-threshold ultrasound (HPPT-US) on pain, range of motion (ROM), and functional activity in physical therapy students suffering from mechanical cervical pain. Methods Typically, 75 males aged 19 to 30 years suffering from mechanical neck pain were enrolled in this investigation. Participants were divided at random into three groups. Group A received iontophoresis plus conventional physical therapy program, Group B received HPPTUS along with conventional therapy, and Group C received conventional therapy only. The outcomes were pain evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS) and Digital Electronic Pressure Algometer, cervical range of motion measured by Myrin gravity reference goniometer, and Arabic Neck disability index (ANDI) evaluate neck function. Results The differences within and between groups were detected utilizing a mixed-design multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). The within- and between-group analysis of all outcome measures revealed that there were statistically significant differences at post-intervention between high-power ultrasound and conventional group at all variables and also between iontophoresis and conventional group, but there was no statistically significant variation between high-power ultrasound and iontophoresis. Conclusion MgSO4 iontophoresis and HPPT-US are effective in decreasing pain, improving neck function, and improving neck ROM in subjects with mechanical neck pain who have active myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) on the upper fibers of the trapezius with no superiority of one over the other. Trail registration The study was registered in the Clinical Trials Registry (registration no: NCT05474898) 26/7/2022.

Disorders of the facet joints are some of the most common sources of chronic spinal pain. Facet joint pain is responsible for approximately 50% of patients with chronic neck pain. Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) stimulation, after placing needle electrodes into the joint space, has been recently reported for the management of joint pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intraarticular (IA) PRF for the management of cervical facet joint (CFJ) pain. In addition, we compared the effect of IA PRF to IA corticosteroid injection. Prospective observational study. University hospital. Forty patients with CFJ pain were included in the study and randomly assigned to one of 2 groups: the IA PRF group and the IA corticosteroid (ICI) group. There were 20 patients in each group. Pain intensity was evaluated using a numeric rating scale (NRS) at pre-treatment, and one, 3, and 6 months after treatment. When compared to the pretreatment NRS scores, patients in both groups showed a significant decrease in NRS scores at one, 3, and 6 months after treatment (P = 0.000). Changes in the NRS scores over time were not significantly different between the groups (P = 0.227). Six months after treatment, 10 patients (50.0%) in the PRF group and 12 patients (60.0%) in the ICI group reported successful pain relief (pain relief of = 50%). A small number of participants. IA PRF stimulation is as effective as IA corticosteroid injection in attenuating CFJ pain. The use of PRF could decrease CFJ pain, while avoiding the adverse effects of steroids.Key words: Cervical facet joint pain, pulsed radiofrequency, intraarticular stimulation, chronic pain, corticosteroid injection, numeric rating scale.

Background To investigate the effects of kinesiotaping (KT) combined with physical therapy (PT) on pain severity and frequency, pressure pain threshold (PPT), disability, and quality of life (QoL) in migraine patients with neck pain, in addition to pharmacologic treatment. Methods Sixty patients with migraine were randomly allocated to the three groups and received PT for 6 weeks (12 sessions, including cervical exercises and mobilizations): treatment group (TG; n  = 20), placebo group (PG; n  = 20), and control group (CG; n  = 20). KT in TG and sham taping in PG were administered during each session. Headache frequency, pain severity (VAS-headache, VAS-neck pain), PPT, neck disability, and QoL were evaluated at baseline and posttreatment. Results The TG showed a clinically significant improvement in headache intensity (η2 = 0.432, p  = 0.003), neck pain severity (η2 = 0.437, p  < 0.001), and neck disability (η2 = 0.427, p  = 0.005). Additionally, there was a significant increase in PPT for the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles ( p  < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of headache frequency. Improvements were also observed in bodily pain and general health in QoL ( p  < 0.05). Conclusion The findings suggest that KT combined with PT and pharmacological treatment significantly improves clinical outcomes in migraineurs with neck pain. Specifically, the TG demonstrated greater reductions in intensity of headache and neck pain, along with increases in PPT and improvements in disability and QoL compared to both groups. These results can support the potential effectiveness of a combined treatment approach targeting both cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction and migraine symptoms. Nevertheless, further studies with longer follow-up periods are required to confirm of these benefits. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.Gov (NCT04185714), Date of Registration: 25/11/2019.

Background Tactile discrimination training (TDT) and oculomotor exercises (OEs) have been widely used somatosensory-based interventions for a wide range of chronic pain conditions. There is, however, little evidence for the effectiveness of these approaches in people with chronic neck pain. This study aimed to determine the superiority of one intervention over another on pain outcomes in people with chronic neck pain. Methods Fifty seven participants were randomly divided into three groups: TDT, OEs, and a control group who received no intervention. TDT, OEs groups received either TDT or OEs, respectively, three times per week for four weeks. The control group received no intervention. Pain intensity, neck pain-related disability, pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), mechanical pain of temporal summation (mTSP), and conditioned pain modulation were assessed as pain outcomes. Depending on the normality, a repeated measures ANOVA or F1-LD-F1 design was used to analyse the data. Results A significant group*time interaction and main effects for time were found for pain intensity (p: 0.001, p: 0.001, respectively) and pain-related disability ( p  < 0.019, p  < 0.009; respectively). There was a significant main effect for time for mTSP at the painful side of the neck (p: 0.022). TDT and OEs resulted in a significantly higher improvement in pain intensity ( p : 0.005, p  < 0.001; respectively) and neck pain-related disability ( p : 0.005, p : 0.007; respectively). There was a higher improvement in pain intensity in OEs group compared to TDT group (p: 0.010). A significantly higher improvement in PPT at the painful site after OEs was found (p: 0.038). The control group demonstrated a significantly higher improvement in mTSP in the painful area of the neck (p: 0.048). There were no other significant within- or between-group changes. Conclusion OEs and TDT are effective somatosensory-based interventions for improving pain intensity and pain-related disability. Impact This study demonstrated that sensory retraining interventions improves the subjective pain perception. Trial Registration Trial Registration Number: NCT05605132, Date of trial registration: 10/29/2022, Name of trial registry: Neck Pain.

Background Nonspecific chronic neck pain is a fairly common disorder that causes a great impact, and it is greatly influenced by psychosocial factors. Among a number of treatment modalities described for its management, the most common approach is based on manual therapy and specific therapeutic exercise, which have shown a moderate effect on subjects with chronic non-specific neck pain. However, the effect times of these treatments have not been accurately detailed. Our study aims to break down and compare the effects of two experimental treatments based on manual therapy and therapeutic exercise. Methods The short-term and mid-term changes produced by different therapies on subjects with non-specific chronic neck pain were studied. The sample was randomized divided into three groups: manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and placebo. As dependent variables of our research, we studied (a) pain, based on the visual analog scale and the pressure pain threshold, and (b) cervical disability, through the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Outcomes were registered on week 1, week 4, and week 12. The findings were analyzed statistically considering a 5% significance level ( P  ≤ 0.05). Results No statistically significant differences ( P 0.05) were obtained between the experimental groups, if they exist against the control group. Nonetheless, we found that manual therapy improved perceived pain before than therapeutic exercise, while therapeutic exercise reduced cervical disability before than manual therapy. Effect size ( R 2 ) shows medium and large effects for both experimental treatments. Conclusion There are no differences between groups in short and medium terms. Manual therapy achieves a faster reduction in pain perception than therapeutic exercise. Therapeutic exercise reduces disability faster than manual therapy. Clinical improvement could potentially be influenced by central processes. Trial registration Brazilian Clinical Trial Registry, RBR-2vj7sw. Registered on 28 November 2018.

Background Chronic neck pain (CNP) is a common painful medical condition with a significant socioeconomic impact. In spite of widespread usage, the effectiveness and safety of combined treatments between conventional and complementary alternative medical treatment modalities has not been fully established in a rigorous randomized clinical trial (RCT). This pilot study will provide the clinical evidence to evaluate the feasibility and refine the protocol for a full-scale RCT on combined treatment of bee venom acupuncture (BVA) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients with CNP. Methods/Design This is a randomized, single-blind clinical trial with three parallel arms. Sixty patients between 18 and 65 years of age with non-specific, uncomplicated neck pain lasting for at least three months will be enrolled. Participants will be randomly allocated into the BVA, NSAIDs or combined treatment group. Assessors and statisticians will be blinded to the random allocation. All researchers will receive training to ensure their strict adherence to the study protocol. Patients from the BVA and combined treatment group will be treated with a bee venom increment protocol into predefined acupoints for six sessions over a three week period. BVA intervention is developed through a comprehensive discussion among interdisciplinary spine disorder experts, according to the guidelines of Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA). Patients from the NSAIDs and combined treatment groups will be prescribed loxoprofen (one tablet to be taken orally, three times a day for three weeks). Bothersomeness from CNP measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) will be the primary outcome assessed at screening, visit two (baseline), four, six, eight (4th week assessment) and nine (8th week assessment) follow-up session. VAS for pain intensity, neck disability index (NDI), quality of life, depressive status and adverse experiences will also be analyzed. Discussion Our study results will contribute to feasibility evaluation and to relevant RCT protocol development for a full-scale RCT on combined treatment of BVA and NSAIDs for CNP patients. Trial registration This study is registered with the United States (US) National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials Registry: NCT01922466 .

The physical and cognitive demands of combat flying may influence the development and persistence of flight-related neck pain (FRNP). The aim of this pilot study was to analyse the effect of a multimodal physiotherapy program which combined supervised exercise with laser-guided feedback and interferential current therapy on psychophysiological variables in fighter pilots with FRNP. Thirty-one fighter pilots were randomly assigned to two groups (Intervention Group: n = 14; Control Group: n = 17). The intervention consisted of 8 treatment sessions (twice per week) delivered over 4 weeks. The following primary outcomes were assessed: perceived pain intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale-NPRS) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV; time-domain, frequency-domain and non-linear variables). A number of secondary outcomes were also assessed: myoelectric activity of the upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid, pain catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale-PCS) and kinesiophobia (TSK-11). Statistically significant differences (p≤0.05) within and between groups were observed for all outcomes except for frequency domain and non-linear HRV variables. A significant time*group effect (one-way ANOVA) in favour of the intervention group was found for all variables (p<0.001). Effect sizes were large (d≥0.6). The use of a multimodal physiotherapy program consisting of supervised exercise with laser-guided feedback and interferential current appears to show clinical benefit in fighter pilots with FRNP. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05541848.

Background: Virtual reality (VR) applied to patients with neck pain is a promising intervention to produce positive effects when used alone or combined with exercise. Therefore, the objective of this manuscript is to compare the effects of VR versus exercise treatment on pain intensity, conditioned pain modulation (CPM), temporal summation (TS) and functional and somatosensory outcomes in patients with non-specific chronic neck pain (NS-CNP). Methods: A single-blinded, randomized clinical trial was carried out. A total sample of 44 patients with NS-CNP was randomized into a VR treatment group or neck exercises group. The intervention consisted of two treatment sessions per week, for four weeks and eight sessions. Four measurement moments (at baseline, immediately, 1 month, and 3 months after intervention) were considered. Pain intensity, CPM, TS, functional and somatosensory outcomes were measured. Results: Statistically significant differences were revealed for time factor (F = 16.40, p < 0.01, ηp2 = 0.28) and group*time interaction for kinesiophobia (F = 3.89, p = 0.01, ηp2 = 0.08) showing post-hoc differences in favor of the VR group at 3 months (p < 0.05, d = 0.65). Significant effects were shown for time factor (p < 0.05) but not for the group*time interaction (p > 0.05) for pain intensity, rotation range of motion (ROM), Neck Disability Index, pain catastrophizing, fear-avoidance beliefs, left side pressure pain threshold (PPT) and anxiety. Statistically significant differences were not found for time factor (p > 0.05) and neither in group*time interaction (p > 0.05) for CPM, TS, right side PPT, flexo-extension and lateral-flexion ROM. Conclusions: Kinesiophobia was the only outcome that showed differences between VR and exercise at 3 months. Nevertheless, pain intensity, CPM, TS, ROM, neck disability, pain catastrophizing, fear-avoidance beliefs, PPT and anxiety did not show differences between both interventions.

Exercise therapy is the most common approach for people with chronic neck pain (CNP). Although well‐established, it remains unknown which type of exercise is the best for treating this condition. Moreover, pain processing can play a role in the persistence of pain and in the response to interventions. Thus, the aim of this randomized controlled trial is to compare the acute and long‐term effects of two exercise protocols (specific and non‐specific) on pain and pain processing in individuals with CNP. One hundred and ten participants aged between 18 and 65 years who have had non‐specific neck pain for more than 3 months will be recruited. They will be randomized and allocated into two groups (specific exercises and non‐specific exercises) and both groups will perform an exercise programme twice a week for 8 weeks. Both programmes are divided into two progressive and individualized phases. The primary outcomes are change in pain intensity after 8 weeks of exercise and exercise‐induced hypoalgesia, and secondary outcomes are pressure pain threshold, temporal summation of pain, conditioned pain modulation, the Neck Disability Index, the Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire, and the Global Perception of Change Scale. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, after 8 weeks of intervention, and at 6‐month follow‐up. What is the central question of this study? Chronic neck pain is the second‐most disabling musculoskeletal condition: how do the acute and long‐term effects of specific and non‐specific exercises for chronic neck pain compare? What is the importance of this work? This is the first randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of acute and long‐term effects of specific and non‐specific exercises on pain intensity and pain processing in chronic neck pain.