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

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

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Neck Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Passive cervical mobilisation; Other: Manual contact

Detailed 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.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 24
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 55 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Passive cervical mobilisation; Grade III cervical mobilization technique as described by Maitland. Applied to left C5/6 Segment.	Other: Passive cervical mobilisation; Passive cervical mobilization which involved an oscillatory grade III unilateral postero-anterior mobilization applied to the left C5/C6 segment. The mobilization consisted of 3 periods of 1 minute applications with a resting period of 1 minute in between.; Other Names: Physiotherapy
Placebo Comparator: Manual contact; Manual contact control, which involved light manual contact on the left C5/C6 segment as if to perform the treatment technique.	Other: Manual contact; Manual contact control, which involved light manual contact on the left C5/C6 segment as if to perform the treatment technique. The light manual contact consisted of 3 periods of 1 minute applications with a resting period of 1 minute in between.; Other Names: placebo light touch
No Intervention: Non-contact control; Non-contact control, which involved the subject resting in the treatment position without any physical contact between the researcher and the subject.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Electromyography of sternocleidomastoid muscle.	Measurement of sternocleidomastoid muscle activation during deep neck flexion. The degree of neck flexion is determined by a pressure biofeedback unit place underneath the neck. EMG of the left and right sternocleidomastoids are recorded for 5seconds at each level of neck flexion	Pre intervention (baseline) and 1 minute post intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pressure pain threshold	The algometer to measure pressure pain threshold was applied at a constant rate of 40 kPa/sec on the posterior aspect of the left and right articular pillar of C5/C6.	Pre intervention (baseline) and 1 minute post intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Curtin University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Benjamin Soon Tze Chin, MManipTher, The University of Queensland; Principal Investigator: Annina Schmid, MManipTher, The University of Queensland; Principal Investigator: Elias Fridriksson, MManipTher, Curtin University; Principal Investigator: Philip Cheong, MManipTher, Curtin University; Principal Investigator: Elisabeth Gresslos, MManipTher, Curitn University of Technology; Study Chair: Anthony Wright, PhD, Curtin University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: April 1, 2005
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 1, 2005
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2005

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 8, 2010
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 13, 2010
• First Posted (Estimate): July 14, 2010

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): July 14, 2010
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 13, 2010
• Last Verified: November 1, 2005

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: pain threshold; electromyography; physical therapy; neck muscles; musculoskeletal manipulation
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Neck Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: PT0004