Acute Effects of Action Observation on Neck Pain
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
This study aims to assess the immediate effects of action observation therapy on the cervical muscles' strength, pain intensity, tactile acuity and pain pressure threshold in individuals with chronic nonspecific neck pain.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Detailed Description
This study is a randomized controlled trial with two arms: action observation group vs control group. The action observation group will be asked to watch videos of neck exercises with full attention and concentration and not perform any motion or execute any movement during the observation time. The control group will be asked to watch videos of a landscape.
Participants will be assessed at baseline and at post-intervention for muscle strength, pain intensity, pressure pain threshold and tactile acuity.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: Action-observation arm Participants will be asked to watch videos of neck exercises without performing any exercise. The intervention will take approximately 15 minutes. |
Other: Action-observation therapy
Action observation therapy involves the observation and perception of human movement performed by others. The observation of actions performed by others activates in the perceiver the same neural structures responsible for the actual execution of those same actions.
|
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo intervention Participants will be asked to watch videos of landscapes. The intervention will take approximately 15 minutes. |
Other: Placebo
Participants will watch a natural landscape without any human.
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Pressure pain thresholds [Baseline]
Pressure pain thresholds are the minimum amount of pressure applied with an algometer that is perceived as being painful; is measured in Kgf
- Pressure pain thresholds [Post-intervention (within the same session of the baseline assessment but approximately 30 minutes after that).]
Pressure pain thresholds are the minimum amount of pressure applied with an algometer that is perceived as being painful; is measured in Kgf
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Pain intensity [Baseline]
Measured with a 100 mm Visual Analogue Scale
- Pain intensity [Post-intervention (within the same session of the baseline assessment but approximately 30 minutes after that).]
Measured with a 100 mm Visual Analogue Scale
- Tactile acuity [Baseline]
Assessed as the ability of the participant to distinguish two points using a caliper and the measurement units is millimetres.
- Tactile acuity [Post-intervention (within the same session of the baseline assessment but approximately 30 minutes after that).]
Assessed as the ability of the participant to distinguish two points using a caliper and the measurement units is millimetres.
- Neck flexors strength [Baseline]
A dynamometer will be used against the forehead of the participants to quantify the isometric strength and units of measurement will be Newtons.
- Neck flexors strength [Post-intervention (within the same session of the baseline assessment but approximately 30 minutes after that).]
A dynamometer will be used against the forehead of the participants to quantify the isometric strength and units of measurement will be Newtons.
- Neck extensors strength [Baseline]
A dynamometer will be used against the posterior part of the head of the participants to quantify the isometric strength and units of measurement will be Newtons.
- Neck extensors strength [Post-intervention (within the same session of the baseline assessment but approximately 30 minutes after that).]
A dynamometer will be used against the posterior part of the head of the participants to quantify the isometric strength and units of measurement will be Newtons.
- Neck lateral flexors strength [Baseline]
A dynamometer will be used against the lateral aspect of the head of the participants to quantify the isometric strength and units of measurement will be Newtons.
- Neck lateral flexors strength [Post-intervention (within the same session of the baseline assessment but approximately 30 minutes after that).]
A dynamometer will be used against the lateral aspect of the head of the participants to quantify the isometric strength and units of measurement will be Newtons.
Other Outcome Measures
- Catastrophizing [Baseline]
Measured with the Catastrophizing Scale (range 0-52 and higher values are indicative of higher pain catastrophizing)
- Disability [Baseline]
Measured using the Neck Disability Index (Range: 0 - 50 and higher values indicate higher disability)
- Fear of movement [Baseline]
Measured with the TAMPA Scale of Kinesiophobia (range: 13-52 and higher values are indicative of higher levels of fear of movement)
- Fear-avoidance beliefs [Baseline]
Measured with the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (range: 0-66 with higher scores indicating higher fear-avoidance beliefs)
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Have nonspecific chronic neck pain, defined as a recurrent or persistent pain that lasts more than 3 months, with no trauma or etiology/diagnosis associated.
Exclusion Criteria:
-
Visual and hearing dysfunction not corrected by eyeglasses/contact lenses or a hearing aid;
-
Infectious diseases;
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Cervical myelopathy;
-
Cervical surgery;
-
Cervical fracture or/and subluxation;
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Vestibular pathology;
-
Neurological disorder/deficits;
-
Rheumatic autoimmune diseases;
-
History of cancer;
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Severe cervical trauma.
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro | Aveiro | Portugal |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Aveiro University
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Anabela o Silva, School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- 21-CED/2020