Combined Chiropractic Care and Tai Chi for Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain
Harvard University Faculty of Medicine
Summary
This feasibility project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of chiropractic care combined with Tai Chi (TC) training to reduce pain and disability in adults with chronic non-specific neck pain (CNNP).
Description
This is a three-armed, mixed-methods pilot study. 48 adults with CNNP will be randomized to receive either 1) 10 chiropractic treatments (delivered over 16 weeks) with concurrent TC training (16 weeks of group training) plus enhanced usual care (EUC) with CNNP educational materials); 2) chiropractic care plus EUC; or 3) EUC alone. Individuals will be followed for 8 weeks after the end of their intervention period to assess longer-term outcomes. Our primary outcomes will be focused on the feasibility of recruiting, retaining and monitoring the safety of adults with CNNP into our trial. Secondar…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Chronic nonspecific neck pain at least 5 days a week for at least 3 consecutive months * Neck pain averaged over past week of 3 or more on numerical rating scale ranging from 0 to 10, with 10 described as 'worst neck pain imaginable' * Neck Disability Index score of 5 or greater * Agreeable to participate in all study procedures and be randomized to all intervention groups * Fluent in English Exclusion Criteria: * Currently, or having received chiropractic care in past 12 months * Regular practice (on average, weekly) of Yoga, Tai Chi or Qigong in the past 6 months * A…
Interventions
- OtherChiropractic Care
Chiropractic care will be delivered by community-based chiropractors that meet pre-set qualifications. Chiropractic treatment protocol will be multimodal and will follow predefined standard operating procedures including the following 6 components: 1) Posture correction and spinal stabilization exercises; 2) Soft tissue release techniques; 3) Manual spinal manipulation; 4) Condition-specific education; 5) Myofascial strengthening and motor control training; 6) Ergonomic and lifestyle modifications/advice. Subjects randomized to chiropractic treatment groups will receive up to 10 chiropractic sessions over 16 weeks.
- OtherTai Chi
Tai Chi (TC) will be delivered by community based Tai Chi schools that meet pre-set qualifications. TC programs will emphasize core principles including biomechanically efficient alignment, relaxed integrated movements, deep breathing, and heightened body awareness. Subjects randomized to TC treatment group will attend at least one TC class per week for 16 weeks.
- OtherEnhanced Usual Care
Enhanced Usual Care will include educational materials about neck pain provided by the study, in addition to usual medical care for CNNP. Usual care for CNNP generally includes medications (non-narcotic analgesics, NSAIDs, muscle relaxants), interventional pain management (e.g., steroid injections), and self-care exercises (all of which will be monitored and recorded in all three study arms).
Location
- Osher Clinical Center at Brigham and Women's HospitalChestnut Hill, Massachusetts