Comparison of Different Manual Therapy Techniques in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain.

Study Summary

90 patients with chronic neck pain (CNP) were randomized to receive joint mobilization, classic massage (CM), or connective tissue massage (CTM), with all groups also receiving cervical stabilization exercises. The primary outcome of interest was pain severity measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes included pressure pain threshold (PPT), cervical range of motion (ROM), functional status assessed with the Neck Disability Index (NDI), balance, and quality of life (QoL). Outcomes were assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment. Overall, the results of the study revealed that all 3 interventions produced clinically meaningful improvements in pain and functional status, with no significant between-group differences for these outcomes. However, between-group differences were observed for right and left trapezius PPT and cervical flexion ROM. These findings suggested that different manual therapy techniques combined with cervical stabilization exercises provided similar short-term improvements in CNP, although specific techniques may offer different secondary benefits.