N/A
N=200
The Effect of the Feldenkrais Method on Pain and Function in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain
Neck Pain
Bottom Line
View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05870371 ↗Enrolled (actual)
200
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
Mar 2025
Primary outcome: Primary: Pain Pressure Threshold Measured by the Commander Algometer, JTECH Medical, Midvale, Utah. — 1.24; 1.32; 1.61; 1.34 kg/cm^2 — p==0.002
Study Design & Population
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- N/A
- Interventions
- Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement technique (Behavioral); Acupuncture (Behavioral); Stretching (Behavioral)
- Age
- Adult, Older Adult · 19+ yrs
- Sex
- All
- Sponsor
- University of West Attica
- Primary completion
- Dec 2022
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Pain Pressure Threshold Measured by the Commander Algometer, JTECH Medical, Midvale, Utah. |
1.24; 1.32; 1.61; 1.34; 1.32; 1.31 | =0.002 sig |
| SECONDARY Cervical Range of Motion Measured by the 3D Inertial Motion Moover® Sensor by SENSOR Medica Technology in Motion (Guidonia Montecelio, Roma, Italia) |
58.22; 63.22; 63.63; 63.77; 55.78; 60.62 | =0.002 sig |
| SECONDARY Endurance of Deep Cervical Flexor Muscles of the Spine Measured by Chattanooga Stabilizer Pressure Biofeedback (PRESSURE BIOREACTION STABILIZER ) |
28.03; 27.68; 29.4; 29.33 | <0.001 sig |
| SECONDARY Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) Measured by the Spirometer MIR Spirodoc |
3.79; 4.25; 3.81; 4.31 | =0.919 |
| SECONDARY Vital Capacity (VC) Measured by the Spirometer MIR Spirodoc |
3.25; 3.67; 3.34; 3.71 | =0.659 |
| SECONDARY Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) Measured by the Spirometer MIR Spirodoc |
101.88; 118.34; 112.16; 122.82 | =0.09 |
| SECONDARY Intensity and Quality of Pain Measured by the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire. |
10.24; 9.84; 4.69; 5.18; 3.66; 3.04 | <0.001 sig |
| SECONDARY Pain Intensity Measured by the Visual Analogue Scale |
4.36; 4.5; 1.77; 2.25 | <0.001 sig |
| SECONDARY Present Pain Intesity Measured by the Present Pain Intensity Index. |
1.78; 1.82; 0.72; 0.9 | <0.001 sig |
| SECONDARY Neck Disability Measured by the Neck Disability Index |
12.22; 11.92; 6.62; 5.82 | <0.001 sig |
| SECONDARY Anxiety and Depression Measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale |
5.68; 4.86; 3.57; 3.41; 8.67; 7.82 | <0.001 sig |
| SECONDARY Kinesiophobia Measured by the Tampa Scale Kinesiophobia |
36.71; 35.01; 32.89; 32.06 | <0.001 sig |
| SECONDARY Perception of Fear and Trying to Avoid Pain in Relation to Physical and Work Activities Measured by the Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire. |
14.54; 12.91; 10.3; 9.8; 16.8; 14.05 | =0.006 sig |
| SECONDARY Pain Catastrophizing Measured by the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. |
7.87; 7.64; 5.85; 5.27; 4.21; 3.87 | <0.001 sig |
| SECONDARY Quality of Life Measured by the Short Form 12 Health Survey. |
44.98; 45.75; 49.97; 50.41; 43.83; 46.89 | <0.001 sig |
| SECONDARY Global Perceived Effect Measured by the Global Perceived Effect Scale |
1.49; 1.78 | =0.014 sig |
Summary
This doctoral thesis is a single blind randomized controlled clinical trial with an active control element. The intervention examined in this trial is the Awareness Through Movement (ATM) technique of the Feldenkrais Method (FM), while the standard treatment given to the control group is the combination of acupuncture and stretching.
The study was designed to examine the extend of the effect of ATM, as a means of reduction of pain, improvement of functionality and psychosomatic parameters of patients with chronic neck pain, in comparison to biomedical acupuncture protocol in combination with stretching.
The effectiveness of the intervention will be compared to the effect of the standard treatment, a combination of acupuncture and stretching, in relation to parameters of pain, range of motion of rotation, flexion-extension and lateral flexion of the cervical spine and the sense of position (kinesthesia), the endurance of the cervical deep flexor muscles, respiratory function and psychometric characteristics, which are evaluated at specific times (before and after the intervention-five weeks).
During the discussion, the results of this study, in combination with the degree of validity of the observation, will be compared to those of the literature review. This comparison could contribute to the more effective clinical application of ATM in the treatment of chronic neck pain, either as part of physiotherapeutic rehabilitation, or as a unique approach.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Diagnosis of chronic non-specific neck pain
- The duration of the symptoms should be at least three months before the initial evaluation and their participation in the study.
- Existence of reported symptoms of non-rheumatic etiology on the shoulder or upper extremity.
- Age range 19-70 years.
Exclusion Criteria
- History of surgery in Cervical Spine (Dibai-Fihlo et al. 2017)
- Patients with a history of neck fracture or injury (Campa-Moran et al. 2015, Dibai-Fihlo et al. 2017) in the last year
- Surgery on the head, face or neck (Dibai-Fihlo et al. 2017)
- Active cervical hernia with radical symptoms or severe degenerative diseases in Cervical Spine (Dibai-Fihlo et al. 2017)
- Systemic diseases (diagnosed rheumatic, metabolic and immune diseases), (Edward & Knowles 2003, Wilke et al. 2014, Campa-Moran et al. 2015, Cerezo-Téllez et al. 2016 Dibai-Fihlo et al. 2017, Cerezo -Téllez et al. 2018)
- Myelopathy with severe disc or bone damage (Ma et al., 2010, Campa-Moran et al. 2015)
- Cervical rhizitis / rhizopathy (Ma et al. 2010, Wilke et al. 2014, Campa-Moran et al. 2015)
- Arterial dysfunction (Kerry et al. 2008)
- Tumors active during the last five years
- Lymphadenopathy (Tsakitzidis et al. 2013)
- History of inflammatory arthritis (Tsakitzidis et al. 2013)
- Diagnosed psychiatric illness (Wilke et al. 2014, Cerezo-Téllez et al. 2016, Cerezo-Téllez et al. 2018)
- Severe neurological disorder (Edward & Knowles 2003, Wilke et al. 2014) or mental retardation (Ma et al. 2010)
- Signs, Symptoms or History of Mouth Pain and Temporomandibular Disorders Based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria of Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC / TMD) (Campa-Moran et al. 2015)
- Fibromyalgia syndrome diagnosed (Ma et al. 2010, Wilke et al. 2014, Cerezo-Téllez et al. 2016, Cerezo-Téllez et al. 2018) Infection or inflammatory swelling in the treated area
- Skin damage (Edwards & Knowles 2003) or wounds in the area of the piercing (Cerezo-Téllez et al. 2016, Cerezo-Téllez et al. 2018)
- Systematic intake of medications that may affect the patient's judgment (eg neuromodulators, antidepressants)
- Taking systemic treatment for the same problem (Wilke et al. 2014) up to three months before the study
- Pregnancy (Cerezo-Téllez et al. 2016, Cerezo-Téllez et al. 2018)
- Previous Adverse Acupuncture Reaction (Edwards & Knowles 2003)
- Allergy to metal (Cerezo-Téllez et al. 2016, Cerezo-Téllez et al. 2018)
- Fear of the needle (Edwards & Knowles 2003, Campa-Moran et al. 2015, Cerezo-Téllez et al. 2016, Cerezo-Téllez et al. 2018)
- Inability to express speech and writing in the Greek language
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05870371). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.