The effects of spinal manipulation on chronic, non-specific neck pain / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of spinal manipulation on chronic, non-specific neck pain.Methods:Thirty patients with chronic, nonspecific neck pain were divided randomly into an observation group ( n=15) and a control group ( n=15). Patients in the observation group were given 20 minutes of a novel 4R spinal manipulation (resetting joint malalignment, resetting abnormal muscle, resetting joint stabiliazation, resetting sensorimotor control) twice a week for 2 weeks while the control group were given 20 minutes of medium frequency and high frequency conventional physiotherapy 4 times a week, also for 2 weeks. Before the treatment, right after, and one and three months later, both groups were evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and a neck disability index (NDI). Right before and after the treatment, cervical flexion and extension range of motion (ROM) were measured. The surface electromyography was employed to record the root mean square (RMS) of the EMG amplitude and the median frequency (MF) from the erector spinae and upper trapezius. Results:Before the treatment no significant differences were found in any of the measurements between the two groups. Afterward and one and three months later the average VAS, NDI and cervical ROM results of both groups had improved significantly, with the improvements in the observation group significantly greater than those in the control group on average. After 2 weeks of treatment, the average RMS and MF values had improved in both groups, again with the observation group′s average values significantly better than those of the control group.Conclusion:Spinal manipulation can effectively improve the strength and stamina of cervical muscle groups in patients with chronic, non-specific neck pain.