NCT06160648

The Comparative Effectiveness of Interventions in People With Neck Pain Who Exhibit Directional Preference

The Comparative Effectiveness of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy and Management According to the Cervical Spine Clinical Practice Guidelines in People With Neck Pain Who Exhibit Directional Preference: A Randomized Clinical Trial

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 200 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Tufts University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 90 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare physical therapy treatments in people with neck pain. The main aim is to compare the short-term effectiveness of physical therapy treatment for neck pain as delivered through Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) as compared to the Cervical Spine Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) in patients with neck pain. Participants will be randomly allocated to receive treatment according to MDT or CPG guidelines. Researchers will compare outcomes between the two groups over 1 year.

Detailed description

Neck pain is one of the leading musculoskeletal causes of disability, second only to low back pain. A growing number of individuals with spine pathologies are seeking medical care; however, the overall increase in costs for spinal conditions is largely due to the growing cost per individual. The age-standardized rates of incidence, prevalence, and years lived with neck pain in North America are higher when compared globally. Due to these high rates and increases in medical care for individuals with spinal pathologies, further research is essential in developing the most efficacious treatment approach. Current evidence-based interventions to address musculoskeletal conditions of the neck are summarized in the 2017 revision of the Neck Pain Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs). The most recent revision includes 4 categories of neck pain: neck pain with mobility deficits, neck pain with headaches, neck pain with radiating pain, and neck pain with movement coordination impairment. These categories differ from the McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (known clinically as MDT) classifications of Derangement Syndrome, Dysfunction Syndrome, Postural Syndrome, and Spinal other Subgroups. Neck pain is one of the leading musculoskeletal causes of disability, second only to low back pain. A growing number of individuals with spine pathologies are seeking medical care; however, the overall increase in costs for spinal conditions is largely due to the growing cost per individual. The age-standardized rates of incidence, prevalence, and years lived with neck pain in North America are higher when compared globally. Due to these high rates and increases in medical care for individuals with spinal pathologies, further research is essential in developing the most efficacious treatment approach. Current evidence-based interventions to address musculoskeletal conditions of the neck are summarized in the 2017 revision of the Neck Pain Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs). The most recent revision includes 4 categories of neck pain: neck pain with mobility deficits, neck pain with headaches, neck pain with radiating pain, and neck pain with movement coordination impairment. These categories differ from the McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (known clinically as MDT) classifications of Derangement Syndrome, Dysfunction Syndrome, Postural Syndrome, and Spinal other Subgroups. The primary aim of this study is to compare outcomes in people treated according to MDT or the CPGs.

Conditions

• Neck Pain

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Management according to Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy	MDT management is based on the patient response to repeated end range movements.
OTHER	Management according to the Cervical Spine Clinical Practice Guidelines	CPG management is based on clinical research regarding management of people with neck pain.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-01-01
• Primary completion: 2025-01-01
• Completion: 2025-07-01
• First posted: 2023-12-07
• Last updated: 2023-12-07

Locations

3 sites across 1 country: United States