BACKGROUND: Manual therapies for chronic neck pain (NP) are imprecise, inconsistent, and brief because of therapist fatigue. OBJECTIVE: Investigate the safety and efficacy of computerized mobilization of the cervical spine in the sagittal plane for the treatment of chronic NP. DESIGN: Pilot open trial. SETTING: : Physical therapy outpatient department. PARTICIPANTS: Ten patients with chronic NP. INTERVENTIONS: A computerized cradle capable of 3-dimensional neck mobilization was utilized. However, in the present trial the cradle was only utilized in the sagittal plane. Treatment sessions lasted 20 minutes, biweekly, for 6 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: : Numerical rating scale for pain, Neck Disability Index questionnaire, muscle algometry, cervical range of motion (CROM), surface electromyography, and 36-item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire. RESULTS: Treatment was not associated with any significant adverse effects. Pain scores reduced by 2 ± 0.5 numerical rating scale points. CROM showed significant improvement at the end of the study (P<0.05). Neck Disability Index showed marked improvement by the fourth week, end of study, and 2 weeks after treatment (P<0.05); headache subscale showed marked reduction. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results demonstrate the safety of a novel computerized mobilization of the cervical spine. In addition, the data suggest that this method is effective in increasing CROM and in alleviating NP and associated headache.
BACKGROUND: Manual therapies for chronic neck pain (NP) are imprecise, inconsistent, and brief because of therapist fatigue. OBJECTIVE: Investigate the safety and efficacy of computerized mobilization of the cervical spine in the sagittal plane for the treatment of chronic NP. DESIGN: Pilot open trial. SETTING: : Physical therapy outpatient department. PARTICIPANTS: Ten patients with chronic NP. INTERVENTIONS: A computerized cradle capable of 3-dimensional neck mobilization was utilized. However, in the present trial the cradle was only utilized in the sagittal plane. Treatment sessions lasted 20 minutes, biweekly, for 6 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: : Numerical rating scale for pain, Neck Disability Index questionnaire, muscle algometry, cervical range of motion (CROM), surface electromyography, and 36-item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire. RESULTS: Treatment was not associated with any significant adverse effects. Pain scores reduced by 2 ± 0.5 numerical rating scale points. CROM showed significant improvement at the end of the study (P<0.05). Neck Disability Index showed marked improvement by the fourth week, end of study, and 2 weeks after treatment (P<0.05); headache subscale showed marked reduction. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results demonstrate the safety of a novel computerized mobilization of the cervical spine. In addition, the data suggest that this method is effective in increasing CROM and in alleviating NP and associated headache.
Authors: Jacobo Rodríguez-Sanz; Miguel Malo-Urriés; Jaime Corral-de-Toro; Carlos López-de-Celis; María Orosia Lucha-López; José Miguel Tricás-Moreno; Ana I Lorente; César Hidalgo-García Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-09-10 Impact factor: 3.390