Recruiting

Thrust Manipulation vs. Mobilizations

Sponsor:

Youngstown State University

Code:

NCT02619500

Conditions

Neck Pain

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Home Exercise Program

Patient advice, encouragement, and education

Thrust Manipulation

Non-thrust Mobilizations

Study Details

Brief summary:

The purpose of this clinical trial is to compare the use of thrust manipulation to non-thrust mobilizations for mechanical neck pain when they are applied to both the cervical and thoracic spine. Both of these techniques have been compared in previous trials but a pragmatic approach will be employed as well as controlling for clinical equipoise.

Conditions

Neck Pain

Study ID

NCT02619500

Start date

Feb, 2016

Status verified date

Feb, 2016

Completion date

Nov, 2017

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Nov, 2017

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Chief complaint of neck pain. (Non-specific neck pain with a primary location between the superior nuchal line and the first thoracic spinous process)
  • Age >18
  • A minimum Neck Disability Index (NDI) score ≥ 20%

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Contraindications to OMT including; malignancy, myelopathy, fracture, metabolic disease, rheumatoid arthritis, long-term corticosteroid use.
  • Nerve root compression diagnosed as having at least 2 of the following:

  • Upper extremity muscle weakness within a specific cervical/thoracic myotome
  • Diminished deep tendon reflexes of the biceps brachii, brachioradialis, or triceps muscle.
  • Diminished sensation to light touch or pinprick in a specific upper extremity dermatome.
  • History of neck or thoracic spine surgery
  • Neck pain of <2 on the NPRS
  • Currently receiving other forms of conservative care and unwilling to stop for the duration of their participation in the study.
  • Any pending litigation related to their neck pain
  • Therapist is unable to elicit the chief complaint with passive accessory intervertebral movements (PAIVM).

Study Design

Enrollment

136 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Thrust Manipulation

Subjects in this arm will receive spinal thrust manipulation to both the cervical and thoracic spines.

active comparator: Non-thrust Mobilizations

Subjects in this arm will receive spinal non-thrust mobilizations to both the cervical and thoracic spines

Interventions

Home Exercise Program

A standardized home exercise program will be given to subjects that will include active range of motion of the cervical and thoracic spine and deep cervical flexion endurance exercises.

Patient advice, encouragement, and education

Therapists will provide each subject with advice and education pertaining to their condition as well as encouragement towards reducing pain and disability.

Thrust Manipulation

High velocity low amplitude (HVLA) thrust performed at or near the end range of a targeted segment in both the cervical and thoracic spine

Non-thrust Mobilizations

Repetitive and rhythmic accessory passive movements applied with either small or large amplitude at a targeted segment to both the cervical and thoracic spine

Primary outcome measure

  • Change from baseline on the Neck Disability Index (NDI) [ Time Frame: 3 days and 8 weeks ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

David W Griswold, DPT

330-941-2419dwgriswold@ysu.edu

Ken L Learman, PhD

330-947125klearman@ysu.edu

Locations

Youngstown state university

Recruiting

Youngstown, Ohio, United States, 44406

Contacts

David W Griswold, DPT

330-701-5353Dwgriswold@ysu.edu

Ken L Learman, PhD

3302617376Klearman@ysu.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Youngstown State University

Last update posted

Feb 12, 2016

Last verified

Feb, 2016

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Youngstown State University on 2016-02-12.