Specific Manual Approach to the Suboccipital Area on Patients With Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain

Summary

There are different inhibition suboccipital techniques, usually adjuvant of physiotherapy, for treatment of patients with chronic neck pain. In our clinical practice, a favorable effect is observed on patients with chronic neck pain, but there are no published studies evaluating the results of this techniques on pain, mobility and disability.

The objective of this trial is to evaluate if the suboccipital manual techniques, provides further improvement in pain intensity, neck disability, range of motion, on patients with chronic mechanical neck pain and rotation deficit of the upper cervical spine, being treated with physiotherapy. For this purpose, investigators conduct a double-blind (patient and evaluator) randomized controlled trial, in a Public Primary Care Center.

Seventy four subjects will be randomized (computer application) into three groups: Mobilization Group, Maintained pressure Group and Control Group. All the three groups receive the same protocolized physiotherapeutic treatment during three weeks and, additionally, the Mobilization Group receives six sessions (two sessions in a week during three weeks) of translational dorsal glide mobilization technique grade III of the atlanto-occipital joint and the Maintained pressure Group receives six sessions (two sessions in a week during three weeks) of pressure maintained suboccipital Inhibition technique. The Control Group receives the protocolized physiotherapeutic treatment only.

Pain intensity (VAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), Range of motion (CROM), will be measured at baseline, after treatment period, and three months after discharge from treatment. After discharge for treatment the patient subjective opinion about their evolution will be collected through a Global Rating of Change (GROC) scale, and evaluation of headache disability (HIT-6).

Conditions

• Neck Pain

Interventions

OTHER

translational dorsal glide mobilization technique grade III

Translational dorsal glide mobilization technique grade III of the atlanto-occipital joint, it is a mobilization technique of Orthopedic Manual therapy according to Kaltenborn-Evjenth concept. The aim is to produce a dorsal glide of the occipital on the atlas, which will be held back by the therapist's hand, producing a stretch component of the suboccipital muscles. And Protocolized physiotherapeutic treatment: Three weeks of daily sessions (five a week) of stretching exercises, thermotherapy and postural education.

OTHER

pressure maintained suboccipital Inhibition technique

Pressure maintained suboccipital Inhibition technique is aimed to inhibit the tone of the suboccipital muscles. Although some dorsal occipital glide is produced by the weight of the head itself, the main effect is on the muscles due to dorsally pressure is not added to the occipital. And Protocolized physiotherapeutic treatment: Three weeks of daily sessions (five a week) of stretching exercises, thermotherapy and postural education.

OTHER

Control Group

Protocolized physiotherapeutic treatment: Three weeks of daily sessions (five a week) of stretching exercises, thermotherapy and postural education.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Fundacio d'Investigacio en Atencio Primaria Jordi Gol i Gurina

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2016-07-31

Primary Completion

2018-10-31

Completion

2019-10-31

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations