The Immediate Effects of Mobilization Technique on Pain and Range of Motion in Patients Presenting With Unilateral Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Kanlayanaphotporn R, Chiradejnant A, Vachalathiti R. The immediate effects of mobilization technique on pain and range of motion in patients presenting with unilateral neck pain: a randomized controlled trial. Objective To determine the immediate effects on both pain and active range of motion (ROM) of the unilateral posteroanterior (PA) mobilization technique on the painful side in mechanical neck pain patients presenting with unilateral symptoms. Design Triple-blind, randomized controlled trial. Setting Outpatient physical therapy, institutional clinic. Participants Patients (N=60), 2 physical therapists, and 1 assessor involved in this study. Interventions The patients were randomly allocated into either preferred or random mobilization group by using an opaque concealed envelope. The first therapist performed the screening, assessing, prescribing the spinal level(s), and the grade of mobilization. The second therapist performed the mobilization treatment according to their allocated group stated in an envelope. The assessor who was blind to the group allocation conducted the measurements of pain and active cervical ROM. Main Outcome Measures Pain intensity, active cervical ROM, and global perceived effect were measured at baseline and 5 minutes posttreatment. Results After mobilization, there were no apparent differences in pain and active cervical ROM between groups. However, within-group changes showed significant decreases in neck pain at rest and pain on most painful movement ( P