For some nagging neck pain, so-called manual therapy may be more effective than exercise, painkillers and other standard treatments.
This "hands-on" technique, in which the neck is manipulated to improve mobility, worked better than exercise therapy or routine care from a doctor for patients with neck pain due to muscle or joint strain.
Manual therapy is commonly used by chiropractors, physical therapists, massage therapists and doctors known as osteopaths. Unlike exercise therapy, in which patients perform a given activity, manual therapy demands that the patient be "passive" as the therapist moves the neck.
In this study, the researchers used specific "mobilization" techniques -- which refers to moving the joint within a patient's range of motion, using slowly applied pressure.
They assigned 183 patients to have either manual therapy, exercise therapy or to continue routine care from their doctors -- including advice on home exercises and prescriptions for pain medication -- over 6 weeks. All patients were allowed to continue on any pain medication they had been taking.
At the end of the study, about 68% of manual-therapy patients said they were "completely recovered" or "much improved," according to the report. That compared with 51% of those on exercise therapy and 36% of patients continuing their usual care.
Annals of Internal Medicine May 21, 2002;136:713-722, 758-759
There are many terrific therapies for neck pain. I am particularly impressed with NST, a very gentle and wonderful solution for most pain problems.
If you are looking for an NST practitioner, go to the referral page of US practitioners.
If you are a health care practitioner you will certainly want to consider adding this wonderful tool to your practice.
In my practice, four therapists and myself are trained in NST. We use it almost every day to help patients.
We are sponsoring an NST course in the fall in Chicago.
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