Cervical Spine Focused Treatment for Patients With Persistent Concussion Symptoms and Neck Pain

Description

Assess the feasibility of recruiting, enrolling and randomizing patients with concussion symptoms and neck pain to receive manual therapy and cervical rehabilitative exercises in addition to standard concussion treatment. In the usual care workflow provided at the participating concussion clinic, cervical spine rehab is not typically introduced until after week 4. The rationale is that neck pain is often a self-limiting condition that may resolve spontaneously, without the need for specific cervical spine rehab. This study is chiefly focused on feasibility aims that revolve around developing changes to barriers in workflow issues at the participating concussion clinic, that would allow for earlier introduction of cervical spine rehab.

Conditions

Brain Concussion, Neck Pain

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

Assess the feasibility of recruiting, enrolling and randomizing patients with concussion symptoms and neck pain to receive manual therapy and cervical rehabilitative exercises in addition to standard concussion treatment. In the usual care workflow provided at the participating concussion clinic, cervical spine rehab is not typically introduced until after week 4. The rationale is that neck pain is often a self-limiting condition that may resolve spontaneously, without the need for specific cervical spine rehab. This study is chiefly focused on feasibility aims that revolve around developing changes to barriers in workflow issues at the participating concussion clinic, that would allow for earlier introduction of cervical spine rehab.

Cervical Spine Focused Treatment for Patients With Persistent Concussion Symptoms and Neck Pain: Pilot Study

Cervical Spine Focused Treatment for Patients With Persistent Concussion Symptoms and Neck Pain

Condition
Brain Concussion
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Pittsburgh

UPMC sports medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15203

Milwaukee

Greenfield Clinic-Children's Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, 53227

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Diagnosed concussion
  • * Patient endorses neck pain OR difficulty moving their neck (moderate or severe; score of 2 or 3 for items 16 and 25 from concussion CP screen)
  • * Willingness to be randomized
  • * 8-90 days post injury
  • * English Speaking
  • * Previous concussion within the past 6 months
  • * Prior history of ischemic/vascular events
  • * Previous treatment for current symptoms
  • * Prior treatment for neck pain/headaches in the past year
  • * Workers' compensation claim and/or litigation associated with injury
  • * Diagnosed substance use disorder
  • * Prior cervical spine surgery
  • * Prior fracture and or dislocation/subluxation of the cervical spine
  • * Diagnosed inflammatory arthritis

Ages Eligible for Study

12 Years to 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

University of Pittsburgh,

Michael J Schneider, DC, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of Pittsburgh

Study Record Dates

2025-05-15