Alexander Technique Neck Pain (ATNeck)

Randomized Controlled Trial on the Efficacy of F.M. Alexander Technique in Chronic Neck Pain Patients

This study aimed to test the efficacy of five Alexander Technique lessons compared to the same period of heat pad application and guided imagery in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Chronic Non-specific Neck Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Alexander Technique; Device: Heat pad application; Behavioral: guided imagery

Detailed Description

see above

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 72
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Germany
  • Essen, Germany, 45276
    • Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, Kliniken Essen-Mitte

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 50 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• chronic non-specific neck pain
• at least 3 months
• 40mm pain intensity on visual analog scale

Exclusion Criteria:

• neck pain as consequence of disc protrusion or prolapse, whiplash, congenital deformity of the spine, spinal stenosis, neoplasm, inflammatory rheumatic disease, neurological disorder,
• active oncologic disease
• affective disorder
• addiction
• psychosis.
• pregnancy
• invasive treatment of the spine within the previous three weeks
• spinal surgery
• previous experiences in Alexander Technique
• ongoing application for disability pension
• simultaneous participation in other clinical trials on neck pain

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Alexander Technique; 5 lessons of AT, each lasting up to 45 minutes, weekly intervals The lessons aimed at sensory awareness of everyday movements and movement sequences, such as sitting, walking, lying, or lifting in order to replace habitual patterns using conscious control; and different techniques were applied, such as demonstration, verbal instructions, hands on techniques and others	Behavioral: Alexander Technique
Active Comparator: Heat pad application; 5 treatments by means of a heat pad, 15-0 minutes, sitting or lying position, quiet room Heat pad: Zapp-Sack® contained certain grains and a ginger extract, and could be heated up in the microwave.	Device: Heat pad application
Active Comparator: guided imagery; guided imagery relaxation technique , 45 minutes, 5 sessions in weekly rhythm including body scan, breathing relaxation, visualization	Behavioral: guided imagery

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
neck pain intensity	neck pain intensity measured on a 100mm visual analog scales; comparison Alexander technique vs. heat pad; comparison Alexander technique vs. guided imagery	5 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
quality of life	quality of life measured by the SF-36 questionnaire	5 weeks
Pain on motion	pain on motion (movement of head in different directions) measured by the POM (Lauche, 2014, pain medicine)	5 weeks
Medication	weekly dose of medication calculated as the defined daily dose according to WHO	5 weeks
functional disability	measured by the neck disability index (NDI)	5 weeks
satisfaction	satisfaction measured on a visual analog scale and via questions like "would you consider using it again" or "would you recommend it"	5 weeks
safety	any adverse event during the study period	5 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universität Duisburg-Essen

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Lauche R, Schuth M, Schwickert M, Ludtke R, Musial F, Michalsen A, Dobos G, Choi KE. Efficacy of the Alexander Technique in treating chronic non-specific neck pain: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2016 Mar;30(3):247-58. doi: 10.1177/0269215515578699. Epub 2015 Mar 31.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: December 1, 2007
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 1, 2008
• Study Completion (Actual): August 1, 2008

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 4, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 4, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): August 6, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 2, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 30, 2018
• Last Verified: April 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Neck Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: 07-3497