The Relationship Between Dizziness and Neck Pain

NCT ID: NCT03531619

Last Updated: 2023-05-09

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: UNKNOWN
• Total Enrollment: 370 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2017-07-11
• Study Completion Date: 2024-03-01

Brief Summary

Both dizziness and neck pain are common complaints in the Norwegian population. The cervical spine has a highly developed proprioceptive system, which is involved in head and gaze stabilization as well as postural control. Thus, it has been argued that dizziness and/or unsteadiness can occur due to loss of or inadequate stimulation of neck receptors in patients with neck pain. Still, the notion of dizziness due to cervical dysfunction is a controversial topic. However, clinicians report that patients referred for dizziness often complain of neck pain, and vice versa.

This study is a multi-center study including patients referred to 1) a neuro-otologic clinic due to dizziness and 2) a rehabilitation clinic due to neck pain. Both clinics are tertiary care university clinics. The study explores the prevalence, severity and spectrum of symptoms as well as clinical findings in patients with various combinations of dizziness and neck pain. The aim is to see if these patient groups differ from each other in terms of clinical characteristics, symptoms and quality of life. Additionally, the aim is to examine if there is a relationship between neck dysfunction and dizziness, and last, if the symptoms persist longer in patients with both dizziness and neck pain.

Detailed Description

This is a longitudinal study with data collected at baseline, 6 months and 3 years follow-up.

Variables collected at baseline include age, sex, symptom variables including Dizziness Handicap Inventory, Vertigo Symptom Scale Short Form, Haukeland Dizziness Questionnaire, Visual analog scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, RAND-12, dynamic posturography, video-based head impulse test, bithermal caloric tests, Neck Disability Index, as well as neck examinations including pressure algometry and measurements of the range of neck movements.

Follow-up data after 6 months include the same patient-reported outcomes as at baseline.

Conditions

Dizziness; Vertigo; Neck Pain

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

Dizziness

Patients referred to a neuro-otological clinic due to dizziness who answer that they do not suffer from neck pain

No interventions assigned to this group

Dizziness and neck pain

Patients referred to a neuro-otological clinic due to dizziness who answer that they suffer from neck pain

No interventions assigned to this group

Neck pain

Patients referred to a rehabilitation center due to neck pain who answer that they do not suffer from dizziness

No interventions assigned to this group

Neck pain and dizziness

Patients referred to a rehabilitation center due to neck pain who answer that the suffer from dizziness

No interventions assigned to this group

Healthy Control

Healthy Controls without neck pain or dizziness

No interventions assigned to this group

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Residence within the Health Region of Western Norway AND
• Referral to the ENT department of Haukeland University Hospital due to vertigo OR
• Referral to Nordås Outpatient Clinic due to neck pain lasting > 3 months

• Employees at Haukeland University Hospital

Exclusion Criteria

• Severe orthopaedic or neurologic disease affecting postural balance
• Inability to undergo test protocol due to physical or language barriers
• Quaternary referrals (vestibular schwannomas or divers with vestibular disorders)

• Known neurologic or vestibular disease or ongoing ear disease.
• Neck pain within last 3 months

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 67 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Haukeland University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Stein Helge Glad Nordhal, Professor II

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Vestibular Disorders

Locations

Haukeland University Hospital

Bergen, , Norway

Countries

Norway

References

Knapstad MK, Goplen FK, Ask T, Skouen JS, Nordahl SHG. Associations between pressure pain threshold in the neck and postural control in patients with dizziness or neck pain - a cross-sectional study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2019 Nov 10;20(1):528. doi: 10.1186/s12891-019-2922-4.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 31707980 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

2017/783

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id