The Effect of Matrix Rhythm Therapy in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain

The Effectiveness of a Novel Massage Method Matrix Rhythm Therapy in Chronic Neck Pain

Thirty individuals with chronic neck pain randomised into two groups. Group I (15 subjects) received a total of 10 sessions as 5 sessions a week.Hot pack to cervical and upper thoracic regions (20 minutes), conventional Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) (100 Hz for 40 μsec), therapeutic ultrasound (1 Megahertz (MHz) for 5 minutes) and conventional massage were applied. Five sessions of Matrix Rhythm Therapy (2., 5., 6., 8., 10. sessions of combined physiotherapy programme) was added at combined physiotherapy Group II. Matrix Rhythm Therapy was applied to cervical and thoracic regions using 10 Hz frequency for 30 minutes.

Pain intensity was measured using by a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) measuring 10 cm. Muscle spasm in cervical region was assessed by using a VAS measuring 10 cm. Turkish version of Neck Disability Index (NDI) was used to assess the disability caused by neck pain. Turkish version of Beck Depression Inventory was used to assess emotional status of participants.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Chronic Pain; Physical Disability
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Matrix Rhythm Therapy; Procedure: Control

Detailed Description

The study included patients aged between 25-65 years who had neck pain for at least 3 months. Patients with radiculopathy who had motor findings, who underwent any operations due to neck problems, who had systemic, neurologic and psychiatric diseases, inflammatory or infectious diseases, history of malignity, congenital anomalies, who benefited from another therapy modality and the ones in whom physical therapy modalities could not be used due to contraindications (individuals with sensory disorders, who use cardiac pace maker) were excluded from the study.

A total of 36 individuals were randomly assigned into 2 groups. Randomization was allocated by numbered envelopes method. A total of 30 subjects (15 in Matrix Rhythm Therapy (MRT) group and 15 in CG) with neck pain due to mechanic causes like cervical discopathy, cervical arthrosis or myofascial pain syndrome were participated in this study.

All assessments were done by the same physiotherapist (FU) before therapy and at the end of treatment sessions. The physiotherapist who did the assessments did not know to which group the subjects were belonged. Another physiotherapist who was not informed about the results of the evaluation treated the patients.

Home-based exercise programs and recommendations were also given to patients. Matrix Rhythm Therapy is developed by Dr. Ulrich G. Randall at the university of Erlangen/Nuremberg. Longitudinal stroking, compression and spooning techniques are specific methods of MRT. Therapies of the patients were done by the physiotherapist who had certificate of MRT application.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Denizli, Turkey, 20300
    • Sarayköy Vocational School

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Having neck pain for at least 3 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• radiculopathy with motor findings
• undergoing surgical operation for neck pathologies
• having a systemic , neurologic, psychiatric diseases
• inflammatory or infectious diseases targeting this region
• physical therapy modalities could not be used due to contraindications (individuals with sensory disorders, who use cardiac pace maker)
• pregnancy
• malignancy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: SINGLE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Matrix Rhythm Therapy; Group I (15 subjects) received 10 sessions as 5 sessions a week. Hot pack to cervical and upper thoracic regions, conventional TENS, therapeutic ultrasound, conventional massage and Matrix Rhythm Therapy were applied. Home-based exercise program and recommendations were also given to patients.	Procedure: Matrix Rhythm Therapy; Hot pack to cervical and upper thoracic regions (20 min), conventional TENS (100 Hz for 40 μsec), therapeutic ultrasound (1 MHz for 5 min) and conventional massage (using stroking, kneading and friction techniques for 5 minutes) were applied as passive physiotherapy modalities. Normal range of motion exercises, posture exercises, stretching exercises and isometric exercises were instructed as part of active physiotherapy.Five sessions of MRT (2., 5., 6., 8., 10. sessions of combined physiotherapy programme) was added at combined physiotherapy to Matrix Rhythm Group. Matrix Rhythm Therapy was applied to cervical and thoracic regions using 10 Hz frequency for 30 min (15 min for right and left sides each) according to the instructions of the technique developer.
EXPERIMENTAL: Control; Group II (15 subjects) received 10 sessions as 5 sessions a week. Hot pack to cervical and upper thoracic regions, conventional TENS, therapeutic ultrasound and conventional massage were applied. Home-based exercise program and recommendations were also given to patients.	Procedure: Control; Hot pack to cervical and upper thoracic regions (20 min), conventional TENS (100 Hz for 40 μsec), therapeutic ultrasound (1 MHz for 5 min) and conventional massage (using stroking, kneading and friction techniques for 5 minutes) were applied as passive physiotherapy modalities. Normal range of motion exercises, posture exercises, stretching exercises and isometric exercises were instructed as part of active physiotherapy.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain intensity	Pain intensity was measured using by a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) measuring 10 cm (0: I have no pain, 10: I have an intolerable pain). Higher scores mean a worse outcome.	Baseline
Muscle spasm	Muscle spasm in cervical region was assessed by using a VAS measuring 10 cm (0: no spasm, 10: the most severe spasm). Higher scores mean a worse outcome.	Baseline
Disability	Turkish version of Neck Disability Index (NDI) was used to assess the disability caused by neck pain. NDI is composed of a total of 10 questions of which 4 about subjective symptoms Each section is scored between 0 and 5. For total scores 0-4 no disability, 5-14 mild disability, 15-24 moderate disability, 25-34 severe disability, 35-50 complete disability	Baseline
Emotional status	Turkish version of Beck Depression Inventory was used to assess emotional status of participants. Each question of the questionnaire which is composed of 21 questions is scored between 0 and 3. Higher scores than 17 mean risc for depression.	Baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain intensity	Pain intensity was measured using by a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) measuring 10 cm	2 weeks
Muscle spasm	Muscle spasm in cervical region was assessed by using a VAS measuring 10 cm (0: no spasm, 10: the most severe spasm)	2 weeks
Disability	Turkish version of Neck Disability Index (NDI) was used to assess the disability caused by neck pain. NDI is composed of a total of 10 questions of which 4 about subjective symptoms Each section is scored between 0 and 5 caused by neck pain. For total scores 0-4 no disability, 5-14 mild disability, 15-24 moderate disability, 25-34 severe disability, 35-50 complete disability	2 weeks
Emotional status	Turkish version of Beck Depression Inventory was used to assess emotional status of participants. Each question of the questionnaire which is composed of 21 questions is scored between 0 and 3. Higher scores than 17 means risc for depression.	2 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Pamukkale University
• Investigators: Study Chair: Emine ASLAN TELCİ, Professor, Pamukkale University; Study Chair: Erhan ÖZFİDAN, Dr, Private Denizli Tekden Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Taspinar F, Aslan UB, Sabir N, Cavlak U. Implementation of matrix rhythm therapy and conventional massage in young females and comparison of their acute effects on circulation. J Altern Complement Med. 2013 Oct;19(10):826-32. doi: 10.1089/acm.2012.0932. Epub 2013 Apr 26.
• Smidt N, de Vet HC, Bouter LM, Dekker J, Arendzen JH, de Bie RA, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, Helders PJ, Keus SH, Kwakkel G, Lenssen T, Oostendorp RA, Ostelo RW, Reijman M, Terwee CB, Theunissen C, Thomas S, van Baar ME, van 't Hul A, van Peppen RP, Verhagen A, van der Windt DA; Exercise Therapy Group. Effectiveness of exercise therapy: a best-evidence summary of systematic reviews. Aust J Physiother. 2005;51(2):71-85. doi: 10.1016/s0004-9514(05)70036-2.
• Ylinen J. Physical exercises and functional rehabilitation for the management of chronic neck pain. Eura Medicophys. 2007 Mar;43(1):119-32.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): March 25, 2011
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): April 8, 2011
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): May 6, 2011

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 1, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 5, 2021
• First Posted (ACTUAL): January 6, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): January 6, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 5, 2021
• Last Verified: January 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Physical Therapy; Neck Pain; Massage; Matrix Rhythm Therapy
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Chronic Pain; Neck Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: 25.01.2011/02

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Because there is no web site to share my data

Drug and device information, study documents

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