Integrating Chiropractic Care and Mind-Body Training for the Treatment of Nonspecific Chronic Neck Pain

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

21 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-05-07

Study Completion Date

2023-02-02

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

Chronic neck pain is particularly prevalent among nurses. Nurses experiencing neck pain frequently report its impacts including decreased job satisfaction and reduced productivity. In recent years, non-pharmacologic approaches have increasingly been used treatments for the management of neck pain. Exercise and manual therapies represent two of the most common non-pharmacologic interventions for pain. The purpose of this study was to perform a pilot study of combined multimodal chiropractic care and Tai Chi for neck pain in nurses to help inform the design of a future, full-scale pragmatic trial.

Related Clinical Trials

Explore similar clinical trials based on study characteristics and research focus.

Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain Treated With Tai Chi and Chiropractic Care

NCT05726331

Neck Pain Chronic Pain

RECRUITING NA

Effectiveness of Physical Exercise on Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain

NCT05725356

Neck Pain

UNKNOWN NA

Manual Therapy to the Cervical Spine and Diaphragm Combined With Breathing Reeducation Exercises, in nsCNP Patients

NCT05229393

Chronic Neck Pain

COMPLETED NA

Manipulation, Exercise, and Self-Care for Neck Pain

NCT00269360

Neck Pain

COMPLETED PHASE2

The Effect of Osteopathic Treatment in Pain and Functionality Individuals With Chronic Neck Pain

NCT02956863

Neck Pain

COMPLETED NA

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

The lifetime prevalence of chronic neck pain is approximately 50%, and it is associated with substantial societal and individual burden. Neck pain is prevalent among healthcare workers, specifically among nurses. About 45% of nurses experience neck pain, but rates may vary by population and nursing type. Neck pain in nurses significantly contributes to sickness absence and negatively impacts nurses' productivity and performance at work. Neck pain is a burden on nurses' individual health and on the healthcare system as a whole. Two of the most common non-pharmacological approaches for the management of neck pain are exercise and manual therapies, and there is some evidence that multimodal approaches combining the two are more effective than unimodal strategies. Given the widespread availability in most metropolitan areas of both Tai Chi and chiropractic care, development of an evidence-based care regimen integrating Tai Chi mind-body self-care with chiropractic represents a practical strategy for management of neck pain.

To help inform the design of a larger-scale trial evaluating the combined effects of Tai Chi and chiropractic care for neck pain, the investigators propose to conduct a single-arm pilot study to evaluate the feasibility of delivering coordinated chiropractic care and Tai Chi via community-practitioners for nurses at Mass General Brigham Hospitals with chronic neck pain. 21 nurses with chronic neck pain that meet all study eligibility criteria will be recruited to receive 10 chiropractic treatments and weekly Tai Chi training over 16 weeks.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Neck Pain Nurse-Patient Relations

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Combined chiropractic care and Tai Chi

All participants will be enrolled in a 16-week intervention period during which time they will receive 10 chiropractic treatments in addition to weekly Tai Chi training.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Combined chiropractic care and Tai Chi

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Chiropractic will be personalized to the patients clinical needs within the scope of chiropractic practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts including: posture correction/spinal stabilization exercises; soft tissue relaxation techniques; spinal manipulation/mobilization; breathing and relaxation techniques; stretches, self-care; ergonomic modifications; bracing and supports. Chiropractic will be administered by one of two chiropractors at the Osher Clinical Center. Tai Chi will take place at one of two schools used in prior NIH funded trials.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Combined chiropractic care and Tai Chi

Chiropractic will be personalized to the patients clinical needs within the scope of chiropractic practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts including: posture correction/spinal stabilization exercises; soft tissue relaxation techniques; spinal manipulation/mobilization; breathing and relaxation techniques; stretches, self-care; ergonomic modifications; bracing and supports. Chiropractic will be administered by one of two chiropractors at the Osher Clinical Center. Tai Chi will take place at one of two schools used in prior NIH funded trials.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Nurses employed at Mass General Brigham Hospitals
* Chronic nonspecific neck pain at least 5 days a week for at least 3 consecutive months
* Neck pain level of 3 or higher as reported on a numerical scale ranging from 0 to 10, with 10 described as 'worst neck pain imaginable'
* Agreeable to participate and commit to study interventions
* Neck Disability Index score of 5 or greater
* Fluent in English

Exclusion Criteria

* Currently, or having received chiropractic care in past 12 months
* Regular practice (on average, weekly) of Yoga, Tai Chi or Qigong in the past 6 months
* Any major systemic illness or unstable medical or psychiatric condition requiring immediate treatment or that could lead to difficulty complying with the protocol
* Any disability precluding exercise practice
* History of stroke, carotid artery dissection, or vertebral artery dissection
* Signs of myelopathy or carotid bruits or evidence of pathological hypermobility (e.g. Ehlers Danlos Syndrome) during the clinical exam
* Neck pain caused by congenital deformity of the spine that contraindicate treatment, neck pain related to neoplasm, inflammatory rheumatic disease, neurological disorder, active oncologic disease, severe affective disorder, addiction, or psychosis
* Neck pain associated with radicular pain or radiculopathy
* Pregnancy
* Recent spinal injections (in the past 4 weeks)
* Neck pain with litigation, any prior cervical surgery/spinal surgery within previous year
* Persons currently involved in a disability/accident claim

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No