Cardiovascular Response to Two Manual Techniques for Neck Pain

To be included in the study, these subjects with unilateral non-traumatic, non-chronic neck pain (operationally defined as neck pain with mobility deficits lasting less than 3 months) shall have numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) of between 0 and 5 out of 10 as the most painful neck movement even with passive scapular elevation, neck disability index (NDI) of between 16 and 50 out of 100%, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure between 90/60 and 138/88, and resting heart rate between 60 and 90. Subjects are excluded if they are current smoker, over 50 years of age, has a history of fainting spells or loss of consciousness, is on blood thinners, is taking medications for or have a history of diabetes mellitus, neurologic or cardiovascular disease, has a history of spinal surgeries, and has neck pain classified or associated with headache, radiating pain, and movement coordination impairments. A convenience sample of subjects will be randomly allocated to 1 of 2 groups. Both Group 1: AP and Group 2: LAT will receive posterior pressures and lateral glides respectively to one hypomobile segment. Baseline NPRS, and NDI will be collected at the initial visit. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) will be measured with a OMRON automatic monitor recording time points: (1) 5 minutes, and (2) 7 minutes after lying supine; (3) during the 1st set, (4) 5th set of one of the glides, (5) 2 minutes after time point #4, and (6) 4 minutes after time point #4. After time point #6, a global rating of change (GROC) will immediately be collected based on the most painful neck movement. A finger pulse oximeter will be placed on the subjects' index finger to constantly monitor their pulse rate for slowing heart rate or asystole. The primary author will perform one of the techniques on all subjects. After one visit, a follow-up NPRS, and NDI will be collected again.