Manual therapy and neck-specific exercise are equally effective for treating non-specific neck pain but only when exercise adherence is maximised: A randomised controlled trial

Review written by Todd Hargrove info

Key Points

  1. Manual therapy was more effective than neck-specific exercise in treating non-specific chronic neck pain when comparing overall responder rates.
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Non-specific neck pain is a prevalent condition that contributes significantly to disability worldwide. Current clinical practice guidelines recommend using both manual therapy and specific exercise for treatment, but uncertainty remains about their relative effectiveness.

This study aimed to assess the relative effectiveness of manual therapy versus a progressive, tailored neck-specific exercise program for treating non-specific chronic neck pain. The researchers also examined the relationship between exercise adherence and treatment outcomes.

Non-specific neck pain is a prevalent condition that contributes significantly to disability worldwide.
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When prescribing exercise, clinicians should consider patient adherence as an important variable affecting the outcome.

METHODS

  • The researchers recruited 65 participants who had non-specific chronic neck pain. They were randomly allocated to receive either manual therapy or neck-specific exercise.
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