Tai Chi and chiropractic care for chronic neck pain
Combined Chiropractic Care and Tai Chi for Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain
This study is testing if combining Tai Chi with chiropractic care can help adults with chronic neck pain feel better compared to just chiropractic care or regular treatment.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 48 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Harvard University Faculty of Medicine Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts) |
| Trial ID | NCT05726331 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This pilot project evaluates the effectiveness of combining chiropractic care with Tai Chi training to alleviate chronic non-specific neck pain in adults. The study involves 48 participants who will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: chiropractic care with Tai Chi training, chiropractic care alone, or enhanced usual care. Participants will receive treatments over 16 weeks and will be monitored for an additional 8 weeks to assess long-term outcomes. The study aims to measure feasibility, safety, and various patient-centered outcomes related to pain and disability.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults experiencing chronic non-specific neck pain for at least three months, with moderate pain levels and a willingness to participate in all study procedures.
Not a fit: Patients who have received chiropractic care in the past year or regularly practice Tai Chi, Yoga, or Qigong may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly reduce pain and improve quality of life for patients suffering from chronic neck pain.
How similar studies have performed: While there is limited research combining Tai Chi and chiropractic care specifically for neck pain, similar approaches in other chronic pain conditions have shown promising results.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
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 * Any major systemic illness or unstable medical condition (e.g. Parkinson's disease, cancer) or psychiatric condition requiring immediate treatment or that could lead to difficulty complying with the protocol * Any disability precluding exercise practice * History of stroke, carotid artery dissection, or vertebral artery dissection * Signs of myelopathy or carotid bruits or evidence of pathological hypermobility (e.g. Ehlers Danlos Syndrome) during the clinical exam * Neck pain caused by congenital deformity of the spine that contraindicate treatment, neck pain related to neoplasm, inflammatory rheumatic disease, neurological disorder, active oncologic disease, severe affective disorder, addiction, or psychosis * Neck pain associated with unstable radicular pain or radiculopathy * Pregnancy * Recent spinal injections (in the past 4 weeks) * Neck pain with litigation * Any prior cervical surgery/spinal surgery within previous year * Persons currently involved in a disability/accident claim
Where this trial is running
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
- Osher Clinical Center at Brigham and Women's Hospital — Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Jacqui Guzman, BA
- Email: jguzman5@bwh.harvard.edu
- Phone: 617-732-9418
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.