Normalizing Cervical Intersegmental Kinematics With Spinal Manipulative Therapy

Recruiting now · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Neck Pain

In brief

The broad long-term objective is to develop an objective biomarker for spinal health based on aberrant or abnormal movement patterns during functional activities to better target spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) and other conservative treatments. The central hypotheses are a) that aberrant spinal motions and their location (area and level) are indicative of underlying spinal dysfunction, and b) that quantified 3D cervical spine intersegmental and global motion patterns during functional tasks can be used as a biomarker for subsequent clinical studies aimed at normalizing cervical kinematics. Specific Aim: Determine the extent to which SMT can modulate, or normalize, intersegmental motion in patients with neck pain. Rationale: SMT is a force-based biomechanical event whose hypothesized mechanism of action relies on moving the segment into the para-physiological zone, resulting in normalization of spinal kinematic function. Hypothesis: Severity of abnormal or aberrant motion, identified in those with NP, will improve following SMT. Approach: Participants with chronic mechanical neck pain will be recruited and randomized into one of three groups: 1) No Treatment, 2) Light Massage (pseudo- sham), and 3) Spinal Manipulative Therapy. Using a repeated measures study design, metrics of quality of spinal motion will be compared before and after the prescribed intervention.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06312696

Run by

University of Minnesota

People needed

60

Starts

2024-04-01

Expected to finish

2027-04-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-04-06

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 39. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Nonspecific, mechanical neck pain equivalent to grades I or II (Bone and Joint Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders classification2 for >12 weeks
• Ages 18 to 39
• Pain intensity >3 (0-10 scale)

You may not qualify if…

• American Society of Anesthesiology Class III conditions and/or serious mental health conditions
• Botox injections (which resulted in clinical relief) in the past 3 months
• Chronic opioid use
• Contraindications to spinal manipulation (e.g. cervical instability; complicating neurological conditions) Spinal manipulation or mobilization of cervical spine in prior 6 months
• Ongoing non-pharmacological treatment for neck pain
• History of cervical spine surgery
• Pregnancy, currently trying to get pregnant, lactation
• Contraindications to radiation exposure

Where it is running

• University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.