Pain Neurophysiology Education and Exercise for Adolescents With Chronic Idiopathic Neck Pain

Pain Neurophysiology Education and Exercise for Adolescents With Chronic Idiopathic Neck Pain: a School-based Pilot, Randomised and Controlled Study

This study compared the effectiveness of pain neurophysiology education and neck/shoulder exercises with no intervention in adolescents with chronic idiopathic neck pain (CINP).

Forty three adolescents with chronic idiopathic neck pain were randomly allocated to receive pain neurophysiology education and shoulder/neck exercises (n=21) or no intervention (n=22). Data on pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale), pain disability, neck flexor and extensor muscles endurance, scapulae stabilizers endurance, pain catastrophizing (Pain catastrophizing Scale), trait and state anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and knowledge of pain neurophysiology (Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire) were collected. Measurements were taken before and after the intervention.

Statistical analysis were performed using a mixed-methods ANOVA.

Inclusion Criteria:

• To be invited to enter the study participants had to have chronic idiopathic neck/shoulder pain, defined as pain felt in the neck/shoulder regions at least once a week in the previous 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

• No exclusion criteria