Assessment of Long-term Effects of Adding Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment to Neck Exercises for Individuals With Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of adding osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) to neck exercises compared to exercises alone for individuals with non-specific chronic neck pain (NCNP).

METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted by assigning 90 individuals with NCNP into the following 2 groups: (1) exercises group (EG, n = 45) or (2) OMT plus exercises group (OMT/EG, n = 45). All participants received 4 weeks of treatment. The clinical outcomes were recorded at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after the treatment. The primary outcomes were pain and function-Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Pressure Pain Threshold, and the Neck Disability Index (NDI). The secondary outcomes included range of motion for cervical spine rotation, Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, and Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire.

RESULTS: In comparison to baseline data, both groups had a reduction of NPRS ( P < .05) and NDI ( P < .05) after the treatment. However, no statistically significant differences in pain intensity or disability were found when OMT/EG was compared to EG alone at 3 months ( P  = 0.1 and P  = 0.2, respectively) and at 6 months ( P  = 0.4 and P  = 0.9, respectively for pain and disability) and no difference was found between OMT/EG and the EG in the secondary outcomes during the same follow-up period ( P  > .05).

CONCLUSION: Outcomes of pain and functionality for patients in both groups were improved at 6 months. Our findings show that the combination of OMT and neck exercises for 4 weeks did not improve functionality and reduction of pain in patients with NCNP.