View clinical trials related to Neck Pain.
Filter by:This study will provide the basis for a full-scale trial to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of therapeutic massage for chronic neck pain (CNP).
This study will use microdialysis to investigate myofascial pain. This pain is characterized by "trigger points" (exquisitely tender spots) in a group of tense muscle fibers that extend from the trigger point to the muscle attachments. Trigger points in the trapezius, a large muscle lying between the neck and shoulder, are typically caused by emotional stress, postures such as hunching shoulders, certain activities like using a telephone receiver without elbow support, or by wearing certain articles such as a heavy coat or heavy purse. Microdialysis uses a very thin needle probe (about the size and shape of an acupuncture needle) to collect and measure chemicals directly from soft tissue. Analysis of these chemicals will show whether changes in the tissue around a muscle with trigger points are confined to that muscle, or if these changes also occur in more distant muscles. The study will examine two types of trigger points. An "active" trigger point causes pain or other abnormal symptoms and often causes problems with movement. A "latent" trigger point often causes movement problems without causing pain. Many healthy adults have latent trigger points. People between 21 and 65 years of age with the following characteristics may be eligible for this study: 1) no neck pain or trigger points in either upper trapezius muscle; 2) no neck pain but a latent trigger point in at least one upper trapezius muscle; or 3) neck pain of less than 3 months' duration and an active trigger point in at least one upper trapezius muscle. Participants undergo the following procedures: - Physical examination of the muscles of the neck and shoulder area, testing strength and range of motion, and response to palpation to find trigger points. - Pain inventory. Subjects complete a questionnaire for measuring pain and its intensity, location, quality, causes, relievers, and associated symptoms. The questionnaire is filled in before and after each microdialysis procedure. - Microdialysis in upper trapezius muscle. An electrode patch is placed on either side of the site for insertion of the microdialysis probe and another electrode is placed on the outer edge of the shoulder. The electrodes are used to measure any electrical activity that occurs with insertion or movement of the probe. The subject lies face down and the probe is inserted in the upper trapezius muscle. It remains in place for 5 minutes while chemical substances are collected from the muscle. It is then advanced about 1.5 cm deeper into the muscle until a twitch response is obtained and remains in place for 10 more minutes while substances are collected. - Microdialysis in the gastrocnemius muscle (large muscle of the calf). The same procedure for the upper trapezius muscle is done in the calf muscle.
This study is designed to determine whether a medicine that can produce temporary amnesia (midazolam) can be used to block the memory of treatment with spinal manipulation. This is important since any study that is designed to determine whether spinal manipulation is effective would be better if patients were not aware of whether or not they were treated. This would allow a true assessment of treatment effects without the complication of a strong placebo effect that manipulative treatment may produce.
This study will compare the effectiveness of chiropractic care, medications, and self-care on neck pain, a very common condition. The broad, long-term objective of this study is to identify effective therapies for neck pain sufferers and to increase understanding of neck pain conditions.
The goal of this research project is to develop a new system that uses lasers to provide 3-dimensional (3-D) images of the cervical spine (the seven spinal bones in the neck) in a moving person. Doctors and researchers could use this system to examine people with spinal disorders and to learn more about how the spine works. The laser technique would be better than existing imaging methods because it would provide 3-D views of the cervical spine and would not expose patients to radiation. These two features would make a laser system a safer and more effective tool than other imaging systems. This technique should be suitable for a wide variety of uses because the sensitivity of the measurement can be adjusted depending on what is being studied. The benefits of this research will include helping doctors and other health practitioners to detect and diagnose painful spinal disorders more effectively. This should lead to improved treatment and management of spinal disorders.