Cervical Range of Motion and Stretching

Cervical Shortening Clinical Trial

Official title:

Immediate Changes in Cervical Range of Motion and Myofascial Sensitivity After Standardized Manual Stretches: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03990324
• Other study ID #: BIO-17-13405
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 26, 2018
• Est. completion date: January 25, 2019

Study information

• Verified date: June 2019
• Source: University of Central Florida
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Cervical range of motion (ROM) is necessary to perform normal activities of daily living and deficits are associate with various pathologies. Currently, its unclear if specific myofascial stretches will improve cervical range of motion and decrease myofascial sensitivity. After a single session of the manual stretching procedure, participants immediately demonstrated increased cervical ROM and pressure pain thresholds.

Description:

Methods: Sixty participants with no history of neck pain or trauma were randomized into one of two groups: stretching group (n = 30), or control group (n = 30). The stretching group received a standardized manual stretching protocol. The control group did not received intervention. Pre and Post-test measurements were recorded for both groups. Within group differences and group by time interactions were evaluated for Cervical range of motion ROM and myofascial sensitivity. The immediate improvement in active ROM of the cervical spine may prompt clinicians to consider the sequencing of treatment. Stretching prior to active exercises may allow for active exercise through a larger ROM. Future research is needed to evaluate the immediate effects of stretching in the symptomatic population.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 60
• Est. completion date: January 25, 2019
• Est. primary completion date: September 18, 2018
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 60 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• ages of 18-60

• active cervical flexion, right lateral flexion OR left cervical lateral flexion <45°

Exclusion Criteria:

• minors

• prisoners

• individuals with cognitive impairments

• recent neck surgeries

• pre-existing neck injuries

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Cervical Shortening

Intervention

Procedure:
• Manual stretching
Manual stretching for the upper trapezius and levator scapulae muscle

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of Central Florida	Orlando	Florida

Sponsors (4)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Central Florida	Long Island University, Nova Southeastern University, University of Indianapolis

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Range of Motion	CROM including flexion, extension, side bending left, side bending right, rotation left, and rotation right	1 minute post-intervention
Secondary	Pressure pain thresholds	The PPT was recorded using a Wagner FDX-25 hand-held digital pressure algometer (Wagner Instruments, Greenwich, CT). The investigator performed each assessment uniformly by applying force at the same rate of 5 Pa/second.	1 minute post-intervention