Neckpain

Manual therapy, physical therapy, or continued care by a general practitioner for patients with neck pain. A randomized, controlled trial.

Neck pain is a common problem, but the effectiveness of frequently applied conservative therapies has never been directly compared. 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 adjusted to improve mobility, worked better than exercise therapy by a physical therapist or routine care from a general practitioner for patients with neck pain due to muscle or joint strain.

In daily practice, manual therapy with specific adjustments is a favorable treatment option for patients with neck pain compared with physical therapy or continued care by a general practitioner.

Ann Intern Med 2002 May 21;136(10):713-22