Study on the Effect of Cervical Mobilization on Motor Function and Pressure Pain Threshold in Pain Free Individuals

Curtin University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Neck Pain

Treatments: Other: Passive cervical mobilisation; Other: Manual contact

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01161758

PT0004

Details and patient eligibility

About

Passive accessory cervical mobilization is widely used as a clinical approach to the management of musculoskeletal pain of spinal origin. The purpose of the study is to determine if passive cervical mobilization can improve motor function in situations where motor performance is not impaired by the presence of pain.

Full description

Cervical mobilization has been shown to elicit effects on pain perception, autonomic function and motor function in subjects who experience musculoskeletal pain. The improvement in motor function may be a direct effect of the treatment or secondary to a hypoalgesic effect. This study aims to demonstrate whether it is possible to alter motor function following joint mobilization, in situations where motor performance is not impaired by pain.

Enrollment: 24 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 55 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• No history of neck or back pain over the last six months
• Without any previous experience with spinal manual therapy techniques

Exclusion criteria

• History of musculoskeletal or rheumatologic conditions
• Any kind of spinal surgery
• Dizziness
• Previous trauma to the cervical spine
• Neurological signs or symptoms

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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24 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

Passive cervical mobilisation

Active Comparator group

Description:

Grade III cervical mobilization technique as described by Maitland. Applied to left C5/6 Segment.

Treatment:

Other: Passive cervical mobilisation

Manual contact

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Manual contact control, which involved light manual contact on the left C5/C6 segment as if to perform the treatment technique.

Treatment:

Other: Manual contact

Non-contact control

No Intervention group

Description:

Non-contact control, which involved the subject resting in the treatment position without any physical contact between the researcher and the subject.