Trial reportTrials2020
Manual therapy versus therapeutic exercise in non-specific chronic neck pain: a randomized controlled trial.
Trial report in Trials, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 12 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 45 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Effects of Craniocervical Flexion Exercises and Scapular Stabilization Exercises in Neck Pain and Forward Head Posture Among Female Wearing Head Scarves
Effect of Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glides and Myofascial Release on Chronic Non-specific Neck Pain : Randomized Controlled Trial
Investigation of the Effectiveness of Temporomandibular Joint Mobilization and Exercise on Posture, Endurance and Functionality in Individuals With Chronic Neck Pain
Effects of Diaphragm Manual Therapy Versus Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glide on Pain, Range of Motion and Functional Disability in Patients With Mechanical Neck Pain
Effects of High-Intensity Laser Therapy and Stretching Exercises on Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain: Findings From a Clinical Trial
Effect of Cervical Stabilization Exercises on Proprioception and Hand Grip Strength in Sedentary Office Workers
Effects of Lower Trapezius Strengthening Versus Scapular Mobility Exercise on Pain, Range of Motion and Disability Among Snooker Players in Unilateral Neck Pain
Effects of Muscle Energy Techniques With and Without Motor Control Therapeutic Exercises on Pain, Range of Motion and Disability in Patients With Mechanical Neck Pain.
Effects Of Tele-Based Multimodal Versus Bruegger's Relief Exercise Program In Electronic Gadget Users With Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain
Combined Effects of Bruegger's Exercises and Upper Thoracic Mobilizations Along With Standard Physical Therapy in Patients With Non-specific Neck Pain
Comparative Effects of Cervical Stabilization and Isometric Neck Exercises on Pain, Disability, Quality of Life and Kinesiophobia in Eyeglass Wearers With Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of Strain Counter Strain With and Without Sustained Natural Aphophyseal Glide on Pain Range Of Motion ,Craniovertebral Angle and Disability in Patients With Non Specific Neck Pain
Who cites it
45 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 130 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effectiveness of musculoskeletal manipulations in patients with neck pain: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.BMJ open · 2025Pooled it
- The majority of clinical trials assessing mobilization and manipulation for neck pain lack a pragmatic approach: a systematic review of 174 trials.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy · 2024Pooled it
- Massage for neck pain.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2024Pooled it
- Pooled it
- The combined effects of manual therapy and exercise on pain and related disability for individuals with nonspecific neck pain: A systematic review with meta-analysis.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy · 2023Pooled it
- Comparison of clinical efficacy of different exercise therapies in the treatment of chronic nonspecific neck pain: a network meta-analysis.Frontiers in neurologyPooled it
- Motor control training versus soft tissue therapy in the treatment of upper crossed syndrome: a randomized controlled pilot trial.Scientific reports · 2026Trial
- Efficacy and safety of Shi's cervical manipulation versus diclofenac for patients with acute and subacute neck pain: a multicenter clinical randomized trial.Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan · 2025Trial
- Effect of integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique on subjects with neck pain and forward head posture: a randomized controlled trial.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy · 2025Trial
- Trial
- Effectiveness of a Telerehabilitation-Based Exercise Program in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain-A Randomized Clinical Trial.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Trial
- Effect of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization combined with exercise therapy on pain and muscle endurance in patients with chronic neck pain: a randomized controlled study.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy · 2024Trial
- Detecting Intervention-Specific Change in Soft Tissue Mobility Aligned with Regional Pain Through Optically Measured Skin Surface Strains.Annals of biomedical engineering · 2026Article
- Electrical Dry Needling and Therapeutic Exercise Versus Therapeutic Exercise in Patients With Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR research protocols · 2026Article
- Development and Validation of a Nomogram for Predicting Recurrence in Patients Previously Treated Conservatively for Cervical Spondylosis.International journal of general medicine · 2026Article
- Mckenzie therapy plus simplified Wuqinxi exercise for improving lumbar spine motor function in chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial protocol.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026Article
- Article
- Strain-based biomarkers at the skin surface differentiate asymmetries in soft tissue mobility associated with myofascial pain.Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials · 2025Article
- Comparison of Cost-Effectiveness and Cost-Utility of a Telerehabilitation Programme for the Management of Non-Specific Neck Pain: A Study Protocol.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Defining Skill in Manual and Manipulative Therapy: Perspectives from Physical Therapists.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundNonspecific chronic neck pain is a fairly common disorder that causes a great impact, and it is greatly influenced by psychosocial factors. Among a number of treatment modalities described for its management, the most common approach is based on manual therapy and specific therapeutic exercise, which have shown a moderate effect on subjects with chronic non-specific neck pain. However, the effect times of these treatments have not been accurately detailed. Our study aims to break down and compare the effects of two experimental treatments based on manual therapy and therapeutic exercise.
methodsThe short-term and mid-term changes produced by different therapies on subjects with non-specific chronic neck pain were studied. The sample was randomized divided into three groups: manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and placebo. As dependent variables of our research, we studied (a) pain, based on the visual analog scale and the pressure pain threshold, and (b) cervical disability, through the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Outcomes were registered on week 1, week 4, and week 12. The findings were analyzed statistically considering a 5% significance level (P ≤ 0.05).
resultsNo statistically significant differences (P 0.05) were obtained between the experimental groups, if they exist against the control group. Nonetheless, we found that manual therapy improved perceived pain before than therapeutic exercise, while therapeutic exercise reduced cervical disability before than manual therapy. Effect size (R
conclusionThere are no differences between groups in short and medium terms. Manual therapy achieves a faster reduction in pain perception than therapeutic exercise. Therapeutic exercise reduces disability faster than manual therapy. Clinical improvement could potentially be influenced by central processes.
trial registrationBrazilian Clinical Trial Registry, RBR-2vj7sw. Registered on 28 November 2018.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.