The Relationship Between Dizziness and Neck Pain

Sponsor

Haukeland University Hospital (Other)

Overall Status

Active, not recruiting

CT.gov ID

NCT03531619

Collaborator

(none)

370

Enrollment

Location

55.7

Anticipated Duration (Months)

6.6

Patients Per Site Per Month

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Both dizziness and neck pain are common complaints in the Norwegian population. The cervical spine has a highly developed proprioceptive system, which is involved in head and gaze stabilization as well as postural control. Thus, it has been argued that dizziness and/or unsteadiness can occur due to loss of or inadequate stimulation of neck receptors in patients with neck pain. Still, the notion of dizziness due to cervical dysfunction is a controversial topic. However, clinicians report that patients referred for dizziness often complain of neck pain, and vice versa.

This study is a multi-center study including patients referred to 1) a neuro-otologic clinic due to dizziness and 2) a rehabilitation clinic due to neck pain. Both clinics are tertiary care university clinics. The study explores the prevalence, severity and spectrum of symptoms as well as clinical findings in patients with various combinations of dizziness and neck pain. The aim is to see if these patient groups differ from each other in terms of clinical characteristics, symptoms and quality of life. Additionally, the aim is to examine if there is a relationship between neck dysfunction and dizziness, and last, if the symptoms persist longer in patients with both dizziness and neck pain.

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Dizziness Vertigo Neck Pain

Detailed Description

This is a longitudinal study with data collected at baseline, 6 months and 3 years follow-up.

Variables collected at baseline include age, sex, symptom variables including Dizziness Handicap Inventory, Vertigo Symptom Scale Short Form, Haukeland Dizziness Questionnaire, Visual analog scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, RAND-12, dynamic posturography, video-based head impulse test, bithermal caloric tests, Neck Disability Index, as well as neck examinations including pressure algometry and measurements of the range of neck movements.

Follow-up data after 6 months include the same patient-reported outcomes as at baseline.

Study Design

Study Type:

Observational

Anticipated Enrollment :

370 participants

Observational Model:

Cohort

Time Perspective:

Prospective

Official Title:

Dizziness and Neck Pain - is There a Relationship and Does it Matter?

Actual Study Start Date :

Jul 11, 2017

Anticipated Primary Completion Date :

Feb 1, 2022

Anticipated Study Completion Date :

Mar 1, 2022

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/Treatment
Dizziness Patients referred to a neuro-otological clinic due to dizziness who answer that they do not suffer from neck pain
Dizziness and neck pain Patients referred to a neuro-otological clinic due to dizziness who answer that they suffer from neck pain
Neck pain Patients referred to a rehabilitation center due to neck pain who answer that they do not suffer from dizziness
Neck pain and dizziness Patients referred to a rehabilitation center due to neck pain who answer that the suffer from dizziness
Healthy Control Healthy Controls without neck pain or dizziness

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

Difference between Groups in the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) [Baseline and 6 months follow-up]
25-item symptom score. 0-100 Points on dizziness handicap severity
Difference betwee Groups in the Neck Disability Index (NDI) [Baseline and 6 months follow-up]
10-time symptom score. 0-50 Points on neck disabilty severity

Secondary Outcome Measures

Correlation between Posturography and neck pain [Baseline]
Path length is used as measure of steadiness. Neck pain is measured With a pressure algometer, measuring the pressure pain threshold of the neck in kilo pascal.

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 67 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Inclusion criteria for patients:

Residence within the Health Region of Western Norway AND
Referral to the ENT department of Haukeland University Hospital due to vertigo OR
Referral to Nordås Outpatient Clinic due to neck pain lasting > 3 months

Exclusion criteria for patients:

Severe orthopaedic or neurologic disease affecting postural balance
Inability to undergo test protocol due to physical or language barriers
Quaternary referrals (vestibular schwannomas or divers with vestibular disorders)