Neck Strengthening in Non-Specific Chronic Neck Pain

High Versus Moderate Intensity Neck Strengthening Treatment for Improving Disability, Neck Muscle Morphometry and Composition in Non-Specific Chronic High Versus Moderate Intensity Neck Strengthening Treatment for Improving Disability, Neck Muscle Morphometry and Composition in Non-Specific Chronic Neck Pain

This study aims to investigate the effects of exercise interventions on neck muscle morphometry and composition in individuals with chronic non specific neck pain. The participants will be randomly assigned to either a moderate intensity or a high intensity neck strengthening program. The primary outcomes include neck disability. Secondary outcomes include changes in muscle volume and fat infiltration in the neck muscles measured using MRI, pain intensity, anxiety, and depression. The results of this study will contribute the future rehabilitation strategies.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Neck Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Physiotherapy

Detailed Description

Chronic neck pain is a prevalent condition that significantly affects the quality of life for many individuals. It has been observed that individuals with chronic neck pain may experience alterations in muscle composition, including changes in muscle volume and the presence of fat infiltration. Exercise interventions have shown promise in improving muscle function and reducing pain in this population.

Objective:

The objective of this randomized controlled trial is to investigate the effects of two different exercise interventions on the disability and muscle composition in individuals with chronic non specific neck pain. The study aims to compare the outcomes of a moderate intensity neck strengthening program and a high intensity neck strengthening program.

Methods:

Participants will be recruited and randomly assigned to either the moderate intensity neck strengthening (MINS) group or the high intensity neck strengthening (HINS) group. The exercise interventions will be supervised by qualified physiotherapists and will consist of targeted exercises specifically designed to strengthen the neck muscles.

Outcomes :

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Neck Disability Index (NDI), pain intensity, psychological measures such as anxiety and depression using validated questionnaires.

Data analysis :

Pre- and post-intervention measurements within each group and examining the between-group differences.

Conclusion:

This study aims to provide valuable insights into the effects of different exercise interventions on the disability an neck muscle morphometry/composition in individuals with chronic non specific neck pain. The study aims to enhance the understanding of the underlying mechanisms and potential benefits in this population. The findings may contribute to the development of targeted rehabilitation strategies that can effectively improve muscle function and reduce pain in individuals with chronic neck pain.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 50
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Réunion
  • La Réunion
    • Le Tampon, La Réunion, Réunion, 97430
      • Universite de La Reunion

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• have experienced chronic non-specific neck pain for at least three months, exhibit symptoms triggered by neck movement, and score at least 20% on the Neck Disability Index questionnaire

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of head or neck surgery or fracture, rheumatoid or metabolic disease, inability to understand or write in French, significant trauma such as a car accident, previous or current neoplasm, known psychiatric conditions like bipolar disorder, current pregnancy for women, clinical or radiological neurological features, cardiovascular or respiratory conditions, and drug or alcohol abuse

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Moderate intensity	Other: Physiotherapy; 4months with multimodal physiotherapy. 2 sessions/week. Sessions consisted of two sessions of 1 hour per week, focusing on neck and arm movements. Each session included education and manual therapy (20 minutes), and exercises targeting neck extensors, flexors, and shoulder girdle muscles (40 minutes). Low-intensity neck resistance training : Participants have to perform arm, neck flexors and extensors exercise. motor control exercises focusing on deep neck muscles, slow dynamic and static contractions (10 to 20 seconds) with low resistance using TheraBand and weights ranging from 0.5 kg to 1 kg. High-Intensity Neck resistance training : neck flexors exercise, neck extensors exercise, and one exercise for shoulder/upper limb. static contractions (10-seconds) and dynamic neck movements using a handheld biofeedback dynamometer or weights from 50% to 80% of the 1-repetition maximum
Active Comparator: High intensity	Other: Physiotherapy; 4months with multimodal physiotherapy. 2 sessions/week. Sessions consisted of two sessions of 1 hour per week, focusing on neck and arm movements. Each session included education and manual therapy (20 minutes), and exercises targeting neck extensors, flexors, and shoulder girdle muscles (40 minutes). Low-intensity neck resistance training : Participants have to perform arm, neck flexors and extensors exercise. motor control exercises focusing on deep neck muscles, slow dynamic and static contractions (10 to 20 seconds) with low resistance using TheraBand and weights ranging from 0.5 kg to 1 kg. High-Intensity Neck resistance training : neck flexors exercise, neck extensors exercise, and one exercise for shoulder/upper limb. static contractions (10-seconds) and dynamic neck movements using a handheld biofeedback dynamometer or weights from 50% to 80% of the 1-repetition maximum

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Neck disability Index score	questionnaire, a higher score means worst disability	At inclusion and 2 weeks after the 4-months treatment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Neck muscle volume of multifidus, spinalis cervicis longus colli, levator scapulae, spinalis capitis, splenius capitis, sternocleidomastoideus,	Muscle volume measured with magnetic resonance imagery, a higher volume could means better improvement	At inclusion and 2 weeks after the 4-months treatment
Fat infiltration in neck muscle morphometry of multifidus, spinalis cervicis longus colli, levator scapulae, spinalis capitis, splenius capitis, sternocleidomastoideus.	% of fat infiltration measured by magnetic resonance imagery, a higher score means worst fat infiltration	At inclusion and 2 weeks after the 4-months treatment
Pain	Numeric Pain Rating Scale of neck pain, a better score means worst pain	At inclusion and 2 weeks after the 4-months treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universite de La Reunion
• Collaborators: Le Mans Universite

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 30, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): March 1, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 6, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 4, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): October 11, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 11, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 4, 2023
• Last Verified: October 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Neck Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: CERVIR

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Study Protocol & Informed Consent Form will be shared

Drug and device information, study documents

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