Effects of Hatha Yoga on Chronic Neck Pain

• Neck pain intensity (100mm visual analog scale) [ Time Frame: Week 10 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  100mm visual analog scale
  
  

• Cervicocephalic kinesthetic sensibility [ Time Frame: Week 10 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

  The ability to exactly relocate the head on the trunk in a self-chosen "neutral" forward-position after an active movement.

  according to: Revel M, Andre-Deshays C, Minguet M. Cervicocephalic kinesthetic sensibility in patients with cervical pain. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1991;72:288-91.

  
  
• Active range of motion [ Time Frame: Week 10 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  6 movement directions (flexion, extension, rotation right/left, lateral flexion right/left)
  
  
• Pain related to motion [ Time Frame: Week 10 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

  100mm visual analog scale for 6 movement directions (flexion, extension, rotation right/left, lateral flexion right/left)

  according to: Irnich D, Behrens N, Molzen H, König A, Gleditsch J, Krauss M, Natalis M, Senn E, Beyer A, Schöps P. Randomised trial of acupuncture compared with conventional massage and "sham" laser acupuncture for treatment of chronic neck pain. BMJ. 2001 Jun 30;322(7302):1574-8.

  
  
• Pressure pain threshold [ Time Frame: Week 10 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

  Pressure pain threshold measured at two individual points at the neck: (1) at the point of maximal pain and (2) in the adjacent region, one to two cm outside the painful area. Furthermore, it is measured bilaterally at levator scapulae muscle, semispinalis capitis muscle and trapezius muscle and at both hands, serving as control sites.

  Measurement procedure according to the protocol of QST. Reference: Rolke R et al.. Quantitative sensory testing in the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain (DFNS): standardized protocol and reference values. Pain 2006;123:231-243.

  
  
• Neck disability index (NDI) [ Time Frame: Week 10 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  The Neck Disability Index is an instrument to assess neck pain complaints. Reference: Vernon H, Mior S. The Neck Disability Index: a study of reliability and validity. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1991;14:409-415.
  
  
• SF-36 [ Time Frame: Week 10 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

  The SF-36 is a short-form health survey consisting of 8 scales (physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, mental health) measuring functional health and well-being as well as a physical a and mental health component scores.

  Reference: Bullinger M, Kirchberger I. SF-36 Fragebogen zum Gesundheitszustand. Göttingen: Hogrefe, 1998.

  
  
• Pain diary [ Time Frame: From Week 1 to Week 10 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  100mm visual analog scale for rating neck pain intensity each day
  
  

Hatha Yoga is a traditional system of exercises, used in India for the relief of painful condition since centuries and gaining more and more interest in Europe and the US. The efficacy of Hatha Yoga for relieving chronic low back pain has been repeatedly demonstrated in clinical trials, while there are no studies in the literature regarding chronic neck pain. The aim of this study is to investigate, whether a 9 weeks-course of Hatha Yoga reduces subjective pain ratings and disability in patients suffering from chronic neck pain. Furthermore, as neck pain patients have been shown to suffer from impaired sensory processing and proprioception, along with restricted range of motion, the study aims to test if Hatha Yoga can improve these variables. Therefore, tests regarding cervicocephalic proprioception, active range of motion and the processing of mechanical, vibration and pain stimuli will be included.

58 patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain will be randomized to either Hatha Yoga group or control group, receiving information regarding exercises for chronic neck pain. The control group will be offered to take part in a Yoga class after the end of the study.