Evaluation of the Efficacy of Cervical Pillows in Subjects With Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain

August 16, 2018 updated by: Paolo Pillastrini, University of Bologna

Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial With Cross-over on the Efficacy of Cervical Pillows and an Educational Intervention in Patients With Chronic Non-specific Neck Pain

This randomized controlled with cross-over trial aims to investigate the efficacy of a cervical pillow (the "Viscospring PostuRite" made by SOFF-ART S.r.l. Via Maestri del Lavoro 49 - 05100 Terni, Italy) versus education in non-specific chronic neck pain. More specifically, effectiveness will be measured using the following outcome measures: pain, disability, sleep quality, cervical pillow satisfaction, and global perception of the treatment effectiveness.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The cervical pillow intervention will consist of the delivery and use of a particular cervical pillow ("Viscospring Postural") to be used during nighttime sleep. Each intervention will include an individual meeting with a physical therapist who will explain how to use and maintain the pillow, will last half an hour, and will be supported by the delivery of a user manual. There will be an opportunity to clarify any concerns and to receive answers to questions.

The educational intervention will be conducted by a physical therapist and will consist of advice on proper positions, movements, and activities recommended or not recommended for people with chronic neck pain, both in the workplace and in leisure time, including nighttime postures. Each educational intervention will be carried out individually, will last half an hour, and will be supported by the delivery of an informative brochure. There will be an opportunity to clarify any concerns and to receive answers to questions.

Participants will be required during the duration of the study refrain from modifying the dosage or type of prescribed analgesic or anti-inflammatory drugs they may be taking at the time the study starts and to refrain from initiating new drugs.

Participants will also be required refrain from undertaking any physical therapy or manipulative treatment for neck pain and to pursue their usual activities: work, recreation and physical activity.

Participants will also be required to complete a daily diary of pain for the duration of the study in order to monitor the development of any exclusion criterion during the period of study.

After the administration of the interventions (after 4 weeks of treatment - "Time one"), the first follow-up will be performed, with the administration of these questionnaires: Neck Disability Index (NDI-I), 0-100 Numerical Rating Scale, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Global Perceived Effect (GPE), Neck Pillow Satisfaction (NPS).

After four weeks from the " Time one" of the study, another follow-up will be performed, with the administration of the following questionnaires: Neck Disability Index (NDI-I), 0-100 Numerical Rating Scale, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and crossover will be performed, which consists in the exchange of treatments between the two groups: the group that did the first intervention will receive the second, and vice versa.

Four weeks after the cross-over, the third follow-up will be performed ("Time three"). In this final phase of the study, these questionnaires will be administrated: Neck Disability Index (NDI-I), 0-100 Numerical Rating Scale, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Global Perceived Effect (GPE), Neck Pillow Satisfaction (NPS).

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
70

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Italy
    • Emilia Romagna
      • Bologna, Emilia Romagna, Italy, 40138
        • Policlinico S.Orsola-Malpighi
    • Emilia-Romagna
      • Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, 40138
        • University of Bologna

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Nonspecific chronic neck pain (neck pain from 3 months or more, not related to specific pathologies);
  • Neck pain, with or without irradiation to the upper limb or to the head, noted as ≥2 on a scale of 0-10;
  • Good comprehension of written and spoken Italian language;
  • Informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Acute or sub-acute neck pain;
  • Specific causes of cervical pain (trauma, herniated disc, vertebral deformity, fractures, dislocations);
  • Central or peripheral neurological signs;
  • Systemic pathologies;
  • Rheumatic disorders;
  • Neuromuscular pathologies;
  • Tumors;
  • Cognitive deficits;
  • Surgical interventions in the last six months prior to the study;
  • Physiotherapeutic treatments in the last six months prior to the study;
  • To modify the type or the dosage of analgesic or anti-inflammatory drugs taken at baseline or new drug intakes;
  • Using no pillow or 2 pillows during night time sleep.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Cervical pillow

The cervical pillow is known as the Viscospring PostuRite - "medium" model, made by SOFF-ART S.r.l. - Via Maestri del Lavoro 49 - 05100 Terni, Italy. The "Viscospring PostuRite" pillow is externally made of viscoelastic polyurethane and internally 60 independent, individually coated harmonic phosphate-coated steel springs, are thought to promote correct posture of the cervical spine, due to the adaptation of the pillow to the shape and movements of the head.

Each intervention will be supported by a 30-minutes informative session delivered by a physical therapist, and will be completed by the delivery of an informative brochure.
Device: Viscospring PostuRite - "medium" model
Cervical pillow use, 30-minutes instruction session supported by a brochure
Other Names:
  • Cervical pillow
Active Comparator: Education
The educational intervention will be conducted by a physical therapist and will consist of a advice on positions, movements and activities recommended or not recommended for people with chronic neck pain, both in the workplace and in leisure time, including nighttime postures. Each educational intervention will be carried out individually, will last half an hour and will be supported by the delivery of an informative brochure.
Other: Education
30-minutes educational session delivered by a physical therapist and supported by an informative brochure.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes in neck pain over time at 4, 8 and 12 weeks
Time Frame: At baseline, and at 3 follow-ups (after 4, 8, and 12 weeks)
0-100 Numerical Rating Scale for neck, shoulders, thoracic pain, and headache. Frequency of neck, shoulders, thoracic pain, and headache.
At baseline, and at 3 follow-ups (after 4, 8, and 12 weeks)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes in neck disability over time at 4, 8 and 12 weeks
Time Frame: At baseline, and at 3 follow-ups (after 4, 8, and 12 weeks)
Neck Disability Index - Italian version
At baseline, and at 3 follow-ups (after 4, 8, and 12 weeks)
Changes in Global Perceived Effect (GPE) over time at 4 and 12 weeks
Time Frame: After 4 and 12 weeks from baseline
One question on a 7 points Likert scale
After 4 and 12 weeks from baseline
Changes in Neck Pillow Satisfaction (NPS) over time at 4 and 12 weeks
Time Frame: After 4 and 12 weeks from baseline
One question on a 7 points Likert scale
After 4 and 12 weeks from baseline
Changes in sleep quality over time at 4, 8 and 12 weeks
Time Frame: At baseline, and at 3 follow-ups (after 4, 8, and 12 weeks)
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index - Italian version
At baseline, and at 3 follow-ups (after 4, 8, and 12 weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Bologna

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
SOFF-ART S.r.l.

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Paolo Pillastrini, University of Bologna

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 1, 2017

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 31, 2017

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 31, 2018

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 20, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 23, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 24, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 17, 2018

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 16, 2018

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 1202/2017

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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