Electrotherapy Combined With Neck Exercises for Non-Specific Neck Pain

Adelaida María Castro-Sánchez

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Chronic Pain

Treatments: Other: Face to Face Program; Other: Telerehabilitation Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06842381

SICEIA-2024-000820

Details and patient eligibility

About

Objectives: The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of telerehabilitation versus a face-to-face program in the therapeutic approach to non-specific neck pain through exercise and analgesic electrotherapy.

Methods: Randomized clinical trial on 100 participants with nonspecific neck pain who will be randomized into two groups to receive analgesic electrotherapy combined with a cervical exercise program through telemedicine or face to face. A total of 20 sessions will be applied over 8 weeks. Demographic and clinical data, disability, pain intensity, kinesiophobia, isometric spinal muscle strength, quality of life, and cervical mobility will be collected. Assessments will be performed at the beginning of the study (baseline), at 8 weeks (post-treatment) and 6 months after the end of the intervention (follow-up).

Full description

Introduction: Neck pain is a common problem in the working-age population, with a high recurrence rate and one of the highest health costs globally. Exercise is considered one of the keys in the management of this pathology, and electrotherapy is consolidated as a safe and proven analgesic measure. Telemedicine facilitates access to health care by eliminating geographical barriers and reducing costs, allowing consultations from any location and favoring the patient's work-life balance. The widespread availability of smartphones, tablets and computers makes telerehabilitation more accessible than ever.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of telerehabilitation versus a face-to-face program in the therapeutic approach to non-specific neck pain through exercise and analgesic electrotherapy.

Methods: Randomized clinical trial with 100 participants with nonspecific neck pain who will be randomized into two groups to receive analgesic electrotherapy combined with a cervical exercise program through telemedicine or face to face. A total of 20 sessions will be applied over 8 weeks. Demographic and clinical data, disability, pain intensity, kinesiophobia, isometric spinal muscle strength, quality of life, and cervical mobility will be collected. Assessments will be performed at the beginning of the study (baseline), at 8 weeks (post-treatment) and 6 months after the end of the intervention (follow-up).

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 30 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Male and female patients between the ages of 30 and 65, with a medical diagnosis of cervical pain of non-specific origin,

  • Acceptance and signature of informed consent for voluntary participation in the research study.
  • Not receiving physical therapy.

• Chronic cervical pain lasting 3 months or more and not receiving any other type of physiotherapy treatment.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients undergoing rehabilitation treatment for pathologies of cervical origin.
• Patients have osteosynthesis material at the cervical level and/or cardiac complications, epilepsy or tumors.
• Patients who have undergone radiotherapy in the last 6 months.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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100 participants in 2 patient groups

Telerehabilitation Program

Experimental group

Description:

Patients will be instructed in the therapeutic approach through a telerehabilitation program using a portable TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) with a specific program for cervical pain (ENRAF NONIOUS Iberica, SA, Spain) while performing McKenzie exercises. The specific program will consist of a conventional low-frequency, high-phase duration TENS (80 Hz/200 μs) applied directly to the cervical area using four electrodes (5x5 cm) at the bilateral paravertebral level. In patients who present radicular pain, the electrodes will be placed along the path of the affected nerve.

Treatment:

Other: Face to Face Program

Face to Face Program

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients will be instructed in the therapeutic approach through a face to face program using a portable TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) with a specific program for cervical pain (ENRAF NONIOUS Iberica, SA, Spain) while performing McKenzie exercises. The specific program will consist of a conventional low-frequency, high-phase duration TENS (80 Hz/200 μs) applied directly to the cervical area using four electrodes (5x5 cm) at the bilateral paravertebral level. In patients who present radicular pain, the electrodes will be placed along the path of the affected nerve.

Treatment:

Other: Telerehabilitation Program