Effects of Hatha Yoga on Chronic Neck Pain

Neck Pain Clinical Trial

Official title:

Randomisierte Kontrollierte Studie Zum Einfluss Von Hatha Yoga Auf Sensorische Schwellen, Kinästhetik Und Körperbild Bei Patienten Mit Chronischen Nackenschmerzen

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01171274
• Other study ID #: 10-4358
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: July 23, 2010
• Last updated: February 18, 2011
• Start date: August 2010
• Est. completion date: December 2010

Study information

• Verified date: February 2011
• Source: Universität Duisburg-Essen
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: Germany: Ethics Commission
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Hatha Yoga is a traditional system of exercises, used in India for the relief of painful condition since centuries and gaining more and more interest in Europe and the US. While studies have demonstrated benefits of Hatha Yoga for patients with chronic low back pain, no studies regarding chronic neck pain are available until now. The purpose of this study is to determine if Hatha Yoga can ameliorate chronic neck pain and related restrictions.

Description:

Hatha Yoga is a traditional system of exercises, used in India for the relief of painful condition since centuries and gaining more and more interest in Europe and the US. The efficacy of Hatha Yoga for relieving chronic low back pain has been repeatedly demonstrated in clinical trials, while there are no studies in the literature regarding chronic neck pain. The aim of this study is to investigate, whether a 9 weeks-course of Hatha Yoga reduces subjective pain ratings and disability in patients suffering from chronic neck pain. Furthermore, as neck pain patients have been shown to suffer from impaired sensory processing and proprioception, along with restricted range of motion, the study aims to test if Hatha Yoga can improve these variables. Therefore, tests regarding cervicocephalic proprioception, active range of motion and the processing of mechanical, vibration and pain stimuli will be included.

58 patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain will be randomized to either Hatha Yoga group or control group, receiving information regarding exercises for chronic neck pain. The control group will be offered to take part in a Yoga class after the end of the study.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 58
• Est. completion date: December 2010
• Est. primary completion date: December 2010
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 18 Years to 60 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Chronic mechanical neck pain, at least 40 mm on the 100mm visual analog scale.

• Pain for at least 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

• radicular symptoms

• congenital spine deformity

• pregnancy

• rheumatic diseases

• oncologic diseases

• other severe psychiatric or somatic comorbidity

• recent invasive or surgical treatment of the spine

• regularly yoga practice participation in other studies

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Investigator), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Neck Pain

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Hatha Yoga
9 weeks of Hatha Yoga, designed for treating chronic neck pain, as a group intervention. One class of 90 minutes per week, 10 minutes training at home each day.
• Information regarding exercises and behaviour
9 weeks of exercises practiced at home. Patients receive detailed information regarding appropriate exercises and behaviour for chronic neck pain patients.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Germany	Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Knappschafts-Krankenhaus, Department for Internal and Integrative Medicine	Essen	Northrhine-Westphalia

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Universität Duisburg-Essen

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Germany, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Neck pain intensity (100mm visual analog scale)	100mm visual analog scale	Week 10	No
Secondary	Cervicocephalic kinesthetic sensibility	The ability to exactly relocate the head on the trunk in a self-chosen "neutral" forward-position after an active movement.; according to: Revel M, Andre-Deshays C, Minguet M. Cervicocephalic kinesthetic sensibility in patients with cervical pain. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1991;72:288-91.	Week 10	No
Secondary	Active range of motion	6 movement directions (flexion, extension, rotation right/left, lateral flexion right/left)	Week 10	No
Secondary	Pain related to motion	100mm visual analog scale for 6 movement directions (flexion, extension, rotation right/left, lateral flexion right/left); according to: Irnich D, Behrens N, Molzen H, König A, Gleditsch J, Krauss M, Natalis M, Senn E, Beyer A, Schöps P. Randomised trial of acupuncture compared with conventional massage and "sham" laser acupuncture for treatment of chronic neck pain. BMJ. 2001 Jun 30;322(7302):1574-8.	Week 10	No
Secondary	Pressure pain threshold	Pressure pain threshold measured at two individual points at the neck: (1) at the point of maximal pain and (2) in the adjacent region, one to two cm outside the painful area. Furthermore, it is measured bilaterally at levator scapulae muscle, semispinalis capitis muscle and trapezius muscle and at both hands, serving as control sites.; Measurement procedure according to the protocol of QST. Reference: Rolke R et al.. Quantitative sensory testing in the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain (DFNS): standardized protocol and reference values. Pain 2006;123:231-243.	Week 10	No
Secondary	Neck disability index (NDI)	The Neck Disability Index is an instrument to assess neck pain complaints. Reference: Vernon H, Mior S. The Neck Disability Index: a study of reliability and validity. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1991;14:409-415.	Week 10	No
Secondary	SF-36	The SF-36 is a short-form health survey consisting of 8 scales (physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, mental health) measuring functional health and well-being as well as a physical a and mental health component scores.; Reference: Bullinger M, Kirchberger I. SF-36 Fragebogen zum Gesundheitszustand. Göttingen: Hogrefe, 1998.	Week 10	No
Secondary	Pain diary	100mm visual analog scale for rating neck pain intensity each day	From Week 1 to Week 10	No