The Effect of Exercise on Pain Sensitivity in a Population With Ongoing Neck Pain Compared to Healthy Controls

The Effect of Exercise on Neck Pain and Pain Sensitivity

This study investigates the effect of exercise on pain sensitivity in ongoing neck pain patients compared to a healthy control group.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Healthy; Neck Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Exercise

Detailed Description

Increased pain sensitivity is a common finding in neck pain patients when compared to healthy controls. Although most studies favor exercise as an intervention, the specific effect on pain sensitivity is still debated. This study will investigate the effect of exercise on pain sensitivity in neck pain patients compared to healthy controls

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 46

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Steffan W Christensen, PhD; Phone Number: +45 99408889; Email: stc@hst.aau.dk

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 50 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

People with self-reported pain from the neck area with a symptom duration of three months or longer and pain free healthy participants.

Description

Inclusion Criteria: - Healthy participants

• Pain free healthy participants
• Able to speak, read and understand Danish and English

Exclusion Criteria: - Healthy participants

• Pain from the neck or shoulder area during the past 6 months
• Experience of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) during the week leading up to the test session
• Former surgery in neck or shoulder
• Current or previous chronic or recurrent pain condition
• Pregnancy
• Drug addiction defined as the use of cannabis, opioids or other drugs
• Previous neurologic, musculoskeletal or mental illnesses
• Regular use of analgesics
• Abnormally disrupted sleep in the last 24 hours preceding the experiment
• Lack of ability to cooperate

Inclusion Criteria: - Neck pain population

• Self reported neck pain lasting three months or longer.
• Able to speak, read and understand Danish and English
• Reduced/painful active range of motion of the head and/or painful reaction to palpation of the neck at the time of inclusion

Exclusion Criteria: - Neck pain population

• Shoulder pain during arm movements
• Experience of DOMS during the week leading up to the test session
• Former surgery in neck or shoulder
• Current or previous chronic or recurrent pain condition other than neck pain
• Pregnancy
• Drug addiction defined as the use of cannabis, opioids or other drugs
• Previous neurologic, musculoskeletal or mental illnesses
• Abnormally disrupted sleep in the 24 hours preceding the experiment
• Lack of ability to cooperate

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Neck pain; People suffering from neck pain at the time of recruitment	Other: Exercise; All participants will be exposed to aerobic/strengthening exercises
Healthy; Participants with no significant past neck pain, chronic pain or other relevant medical disorders.	Other: Exercise; All participants will be exposed to aerobic/strengthening exercises

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in pain sensitivity	Pain sensitivity will be estimated by determining the pressure pain threshold (PPT) on the neck before and after exercise	Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in perceived pain	Pain will be scored using a scale from 0-10 with 0 being no pain and 10 being worst imaginable pain and by drawing perceived painful areas on a body charts	Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
Change in disability	Disability will be estimated by scoring the Neck Disability Index (NDI) questionnaire. The questionnaire is designed to help express how neck pain affects your ability to manage everyday activities.(Domains: pain intensity, personal care, lifting, reading, headache, concentration, work, driving, sleeping, recreation). Higher score = high level of disability	Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in body movements	Head repositioning accuracy will be tested using a clinical test in a seated position. Participants will turn their head to end of range in from a neutral position with their eyes closed and return to the start position again. The difference between start and end position will be recorded. Standing balance will be assessed by recording the time (seconds) a tandem stance can be maintained.	Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Aalborg University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Anticipated): June 20, 2019
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): October 1, 2020
• Study Completion (Anticipated): January 1, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 18, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 19, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): June 20, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 20, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 19, 2019
• Last Verified: June 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Exercise; Neck pain; Pain sensitivity
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Immune System Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Hypersensitivity; Neck Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: N-20180063_Sub-project_3

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No