Thermotherapy in Acute Nonspecific Neck Pain

Comparison of the Short-term Effect of Superficial Thermotherapy Applications in Acute Nonspecific Neck Pain-Randomised Controlled Trial

Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal pain disorders secondary to low back pain. Medical and non-medical treatments such as physiotherapy are applied in its treatment. Patients with nonspecific neck pain (NBA) can be treated with various interventions such as drug therapy, manual therapy, heat and exercise. Although it is frequently used in clinical practice, there is no evidence that superficial thermotherapy (hot or cold) methods effectively relieve neck pain. Therefore, this study aims to compare the short-term effects of superficial hot or cold applications on pain, range of motion and functional status in patients with NBA.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being diagnosed with nonspecific neck pain by a doctor,
• To be between the ages of 18-65,
• Neck pain lasting for less than 1 month
• No previous neck or shoulder surgery,
• No shoulder pain due to any cause,
• A tumour or inflammatory disease underlying the neck pain not to be found,
• A clinically underlying stenosis or discogenic problem not to be present.
• Negative results from the following clinical examination tests;

Spurling test, Lhermitte test, Cervical distraction test, Adson test,

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not meeting the inclusion criteria,
• Positive neurological examination (positive motor presence, reflex or sensory abnormalities indicating spinal root compression) or abnormal neurological findings related to nerve compression in the upper limb
• Systemic rheumatological or metabolic diseases or cancer
• Refusal to participate in the study,
• Failure to complete treatment,
• Having any neurological problem
• Severe psychological illnesses