NCT02081456

Soft Tissue Mobilization Versus Therapeutic Ultrasound for Subjects With Neck and Arm Pain

The Effects of Soft Tissue Mobilization Versus Therapeutic Ultrasound for Subjects With Neck and Arm Pain With Evidence of Neural Mechanical Sensitivity: A Randomized Clinical Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 23 (actual)
• Sponsor: Emilio J Puentedura, PT, DPT, PhD · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate effects of soft tissue mobilization versus therapeutic ultrasound in subjects with neck and arm pain who demonstrate neural mechanical sensitivity.

Detailed description

To investigate the immediate effects of soft tissue mobilization (STM) versus therapeutic ultrasound (US) in patients with neck and arm pain who demonstrate neural mechanical sensitivity. Twenty-three patients with neck and arm pain and a positive upper limb neurodynamic test (ULNT) were randomly assigned to receive STM or therapeutic US during a single session. Outcome measures were collected immediately before and after treatment, and at 2-4 day follow-up. Primary outcomes were the Global Rating of Change (GROC), range of motion (ROM) during the ULNT, and pain rating during the ULNT. Secondary measures included the Neck Disability Index (NDI), Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS), Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), and active range of shoulder abduction motion combined with the wrist neutral or wrist extension.

Conditions

• Cervical Radiculopathy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Soft Tissue Mobilization	Patients in the STM group received treatment in supine, with their head resting on one pillow and the involved UE positioned in abduction and external rotation to preload the neural structures of the upper limb. Manual pressure was applied to the soft tissues of the upper quadrant in a deep, stroking manner with the intention to improve the mobility of the soft tissues surrounding the pathway of the neural structures of the upper limb as well as any tender or tight tissues. The therapist spent approximately 7 minutes on the neck and scapular region, 4 minutes on the upper arm, and 4 minutes on the forearm and hand. The therapist was allowed to vary the time spent on each region according to his/her assessment of the patient's condition. The procedure lasted a total of 15 minutes.
DEVICE	Therapeutic Ultrasound	Patients received therapeutic US applied for a period of 5 minutes to the most painful region of the neck, then a second 5-minute dose at the most painful region of the upper extremity. The US dose was 0.5 w/cm2, with sonation time 50% and frequency 1 MHz.40,52 The patient lay supine with the hand of the involved upper extremity placed on the abdomen and the elbow supported on a pillow. The two US doses and interaction time with the patient lasted a total of 15 minutes in an attempt to have equal patient/therapist contact between the two groups.

Timeline

• Start date: 2009-11-01
• Primary completion: 2012-06-01
• Completion: 2012-06-01
• First posted: 2014-03-07
• Last updated: 2018-10-23
• Results posted: 2018-10-23