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Acute Effects of Cervical Manual Therapy on Eye Blood Flow

NCT07688707 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 100

Last updated 2026-07-07

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This study evaluates the acute effects of cervical manual therapy on retinal and choroidal microvascular perfusion using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). In this prospective randomized sham-controlled trial, 100 patients with chronic mechanical neck pain were randomly assigned to receive either cervical high-velocity low-amplitude manipulation combined with Maitland mobilization (manual therapy group) or sham treatment. Bilateral OCTA examinations were performed at baseline and at 15, 30, 60, and 120 minutes after intervention. The primary outcome is superficial capillary plexus (SCP) foveal vessel density. Secondary outcomes include deep capillary plexus (DCP) vessel density, radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) density, subfoveal choroidal thickness, foveal avascular zone parameters, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, ganglion cell complex thickness, and macular thickness. The study aims to determine whether cervical manual therapy produces a significant augmentation of retinal and choroidal perfusion compared with sham treatment, with peak effects expected at 60 minutes post-intervention.

Conditions

  • Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain

Interventions

OTHER

Cervical Manual Therapy

A single, standardized session consisting of cervical high-velocity low-amplitude (HVLA) thrust manipulation targeting C1-C2 and C3-C4 bilaterally, supplemented by sustained Maitland grade III-IV mobilization of the mid-cervical spine. Total session duration: 15-20 minutes. Audible cavitation is documented as a quality indicator. Participants remain seated throughout the post-intervention observation period.

OTHER

Sham Treatment

Light, non-therapeutic manual contact at the same anatomical sites as the active intervention, without joint movement, traction, or thrust (\<5 N contact force, verified by force gauge during training). Session duration is identical to the active intervention (15-20 minutes). Participants remain seated throughout the observation window to control for postural effects on choroidal thickness.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Yuzuncu Yil University

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
70 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-02-23
Primary Completion
2026-05-25
Completion
2026-05-26

Countries

  • Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07688707 on ClinicalTrials.gov