Assessing effects of a semi-customized experimental cervical pillow on symptomatic adults with chronic neck pain with and without headache

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effects of a semi-customized experimental cervical pillow on symptomatic adults with chronic neck pain (with and without headache) during a four week study.

Design: A randomized controlled trial.

Sample size: Thirty-six adults were recruited for the trial, and randomly assigned to experimental or non-experimental groups of 17 and 19 participants respectively.

Subjects: Adults with chronic biomechanical neck pain who were recruited from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) Walk-in Clinic.

Outcome measures: Subjective findings were assessed using a mail-in self-report daily pain diary, and the CMCC Neck Disability Index (NDI).

Statistical analysis: Using repeated measure analysis of variance weekly NDI scores, average weekly AM and PM pain scores between the experimental and non-experimental groups were compared throughout the study.

Results: The experimental group had statistically significant lower NDI scores (p < 0.05) than the non-experimental group. The average weekly AM scores were lower and statistically significant (p < 0.05) in the experimental group. The PM scores in the experimental group were lower but not statistically significant than the other group.

Conclusions: The study results show that compared to conventional pillows, this experimental semi-customized cervical pillow was effective in reducing low-level neck pain intensity, especially in the morning following its use in a 4 week long study.

Figures

Figure 1

The test (semi-customized) pillow Universal Pillow