Effects of Chiropractic and Exercise on Wrist Proprioception and Grip Strength in Individuals With Mechanical Neck Pain

Summary

The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of chiropractic and different physiotherapy applications on bilateral hand grip strength, grip sensitivity, two-point separation and joint position sense in individuals with mechanical neck pain (NPMO). It is known that the decrease in grip strength and hand functions, especially with increasing age, causes disability in daily life activities and even death. The planned study aims to improve hand functions in individuals with NPMO.

48 individuals diagnosed with mechanical neck pain were included in the study. The 48 individuals were randomly divided into 4 groups via the Randomizer.org website.

* The first group is the control group (n=12); transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation, ultrasound and appropriate neck exercises are planned to be applied every day for 4 weeks.
* The second group is the chiropractic group and will be applied twice a week for 3 weeks by me, a Bahcesehir University Chiropractic Masters graduate (2017), targeting the lower cervicals.
* Classic hand-wrist exercises such as ROM, stretching and strengthening were applied to the third group in all directions of the wrist.
* In the fourth group, proprioceptive exercises such as joint approximation, traction and mobilization, similar to the classic hand-wrist exercise group, will be performed every day for 4 weeks.

The researcher will compare the effects of chiropractic and other physiotherapy techniques with the control group. Measurements will be repeated 4 weeks after the end of the treatment to measure whether the effects after the treatment continue. As a result of the evaluations recorded in a total of 8 weeks, statistical analyses will be performed first for the changes within the four groups and then for the changes between the groups.

The basic questions it aims to answer are as follows:

1. Is there a difference between the control group and chiropractic application, classic hand-wrist exercises and proprioceptive exercises in terms of the effects on grip strength, grip sensitivity, joint position sense and two-point discrimination test in individuals with NPMO?
2. Is there an improvement in the pain levels and functional disabilities of the participants?
3. Are the short-term results of the treatments sufficient?

Conditions

• Neck Pain

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Chiropractic manipulation

Chiropractic manipulation: Lower cervical chiropractic manipulation is a technique used to increase mobility and relieve pain in the lower vertebrae of the neck. However, such procedures should only be performed by trained chiropractors; if done incorrectly, they can lead to serious problems. The patient should be placed in a comfortable position. The supine or side-lying position is usually preferred. Contact is established with the transverse processes of the lower cervical vertebrae. High-velocity, Low-amplitude thrust is applied within anatomical limits. As a graduate of Bahcesehir University Chiropractic Masters Degree, I applied chiropractic twice a week for 3 weeks.

PROCEDURE

Exercises to be done for neck pain of mechanical origin

Conservative treatment, which is frequently used in the treatment of mechanical neck pain, was planned. A warm-up period was defined with stretching exercises in all areas of neck movement. Again, isometric exercise should be 10 seconds in all directions. In addition to neck and shoulder mobility exercises, neck region posture exercises were included. It was planned to do these exercises for 4 weeks, 5 days a week, in all 4 groups.

PROCEDURE

Classic Hand-Wrist Exercises

The participants of this group will be subjected to wrist range of motion (ROM), stretching and strengthening exercises. Measurements will be made in all axes of motion of the wrist, which are extension, flexion, ulnar and radial deviation. ROM exercises and stretching exercises were applied passively to all axes of motion within anatomical limits. At the last angles of the movement, the individual was forced and stretched without causing discomfort and waited at the last angles for a short time. Stretching exercises were performed five times for each movement. Strengthening exercises for all axes of movement of the wrist will be performed using dumbbells weighing 1 and 2 kilograms and an exercise band suitable for the persons endurance and strength. In exercises performed with dumbbells, all movements of the wrist will be performed against gravity. All applications were applied to the classical hand-wrist exercise group for at least half an hour every day for 4 weeks.

PROCEDURE

Proprioceptive exercise group

Similar to the classical wrist exercise group, the participants in this group were applied joint range of motion, stretching and strengthening exercises as well as proprioceptive exercises such as joint approximation, traction and mobilization. In addition to all axes of motion of the wrist, active and passive stretching exercises were applied to the forearm flexor and extensor muscles five times each. The resistance and repetition number were gradually increased according to the wrist strength and endurance of the individuals to at least 10 repetitions. Repetitive contraction and rhythmic stabilization techniques were used from proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation methods. Joint approximation technique and taping of forearm flexor and extensor muscles were used to increase the level of contraction and stimulation of joint receptors. External stabilization and perturbation exercises were performed with an exercise ball against the wall at different angles of the upper extremity.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Ersin COZVELIOGLU, Ph.D · Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

50 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-12-28

Primary Completion

2023-01-21

Completion

2024-07-15

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations