Neck PainNCT01938209
A Comparison of Seated Thoracic Manipulation and Targeted Supine Thoracic Manipulation on Cervical Flexion Motion and Pain
A study testing seated thoracic manipulation and supine specific thoracic spine manipulation in people with Neck Pain, run by Chatham University.
Trial summary
Thirty-nine patients with cervical spine pain were randomly assigned to either a seated thoracic manipulation or targeted supine thoracic manipulation group. Pain and flexion range of motion measures were taken before and after the intervention. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Neck Pain
- What is being tested?
- seated thoracic manipulation and supine specific thoracic spine manipulation
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 39 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2010to 1 Sep 2020
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Inclusion criteria required patients to be between 18-60 years old with a primary complaint of neck pain
Who cannot join
- identification of red flags suggestive of nonmusculoskeletal etiology, history of whiplash injury within six weeks of the initial visit, diagnosis of cervical spine stenosis, central nervous system involvement, or signs of nerve root compression (two of the following limited at the same level: strength, sensation, reflexes).
About this study
Official title: A Randomized Control Trial of the Immediate Effects of Seated Thoracic Manipulation and Targeted Supine Thoracic Manipulation on Cervical Spine Flexion Range of Motion and Pain
Thirty-nine patients with cervical spine pain were randomly assigned to either a seated thoracic manipulation or targeted supine thoracic manipulation group. Pain and flexion range of motion measures were taken before and after the intervention.
Read the detailed description
DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of seated thoracic manipulation versus targeted supine thoracic manipulation on cervical spine pain and flexion range of motion. There is evidence that thoracic spine manipulation is an effective treatment for patients with cervical spine pain. This evidence includes a variety of techniques to manipulate the thoracic spine. While each of them is effective, no research has compared techniques to determine which produces the best outcomes.
METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with cervical spine pain were randomly assigned to either a seated thoracic manipulation or targeted supine thoracic manipulation group. Pain and flexion range of motion measures were taken before and after the intervention.
- Conditions
- Neck Pain
- Being tested
- seated thoracic manipulation, supine specific thoracic spine manipulation
- Medical subject headings
- Neck Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
seated thoracic manipulationOther
seated general thoracic spine manipulation
supine specific thoracic spine manipulationOther
supine specific thoracic spine manipulation
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| seated general thoracic spine manipulation | Experimental | seated general thoracic spine manipulation Receives: Other: seated thoracic manipulation |
| supine specific thoracic spine manipulation | Experimental | Specific supine manipulation Receives: Other: supine specific thoracic spine manipulation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
neck pain
As measured by patient response at end range of flexion on a scale of 0 - 10.
Measured: pain measure taken immediately on first visit
Secondary outcomes (1)
neck range of motion
As measure using a bubble goniometer, shich has been shown to be valid and reliable.
Measured: range of motion assessed immediately in first visit
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Sep 2013 (estimated)
- Study start1 Sep 2010
- Primary completion1 Sep 2020
- Study completion1 Sep 2020
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Neck PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 39 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Chatham University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Megan J. Olson Hunt
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Steve Karas, Chatham University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01938209
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- karas 003
- Other IDs
- karas thoracic spine
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 3 Sep 2013
- Last updated
- 22 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Randomized Control Trial of the Immediate Effects of Seated Thoracic Manipulation and Targeted Supine Thoracic Manipulation on Cervical Spine Flexion Range of Motion and Pain
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01938209
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- karas 003
- Conditions
- Neck Pain
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 39 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Chatham UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Megan J. Olson Hunt
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2010 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Sep 2020 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Sep 2020 (actual)
- First posted
- 10 Sep 2013 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Thirty-nine patients with cervical spine pain were randomly assigned to either a seated thoracic manipulation or targeted supine thoracic manipulation group. Pain and flexion range of motion measures were taken before and after the intervention.
Detailed description
DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of seated thoracic manipulation versus targeted supine thoracic manipulation on cervical spine pain and flexion range of motion. There is evidence that thoracic spine manipulation is an effective treatment for patients with cervical spine pain. This evidence includes a variety of techniques to manipulate the thoracic spine. While each of them is effective, no research has compared techniques to determine which produces the best outcomes.
METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with cervical spine pain were randomly assigned to either a seated thoracic manipulation or targeted supine thoracic manipulation group. Pain and flexion range of motion measures were taken before and after the intervention.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| seated general thoracic spine manipulation | Experimental | Other: seated thoracic manipulationseated general thoracic spine manipulation |
| supine specific thoracic spine manipulation | Experimental | Other: supine specific thoracic spine manipulationSpecific supine manipulation |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Inclusion criteria required patients to be between 18-60 years old with a primary complaint of neck pain
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- identification of red flags suggestive of nonmusculoskeletal etiology, history of whiplash injury within six weeks of the initial visit, diagnosis of cervical spine stenosis, central nervous system involvement, or signs of nerve root compression (two of the following limited at the same level: strength, sensation, reflexes).
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| seated thoracic manipulationseated general thoracic spine manipulation | Other | seated general thoracic spine manipulation |
| supine specific thoracic spine manipulationsupine specific thoracic spine manipulation | Other | supine specific thoracic spine manipulation |
Primary outcome
neck pain
Time frame: pain measure taken immediately on first visit
As measured by patient response at end range of flexion on a scale of 0 - 10.
1 secondary outcome
neck range of motion
Time frame: range of motion assessed immediately in first visit
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 Oct 2026.
Related trials for Neck Pain
Not yet recruiting
Effects of Whole-Body Vibration and Cervical Stabilization With Core Stabilization in Young Adults With Non-Specific Low Back Pain
Nonspecific Low Back Pain
Recruiting
Strain Counter Strain and Conventional Stretching in School-aged Children With Mechanical Neck Pain Due to Prolong Screen Use
Mechanical Neck Pain
Recruiting
Effects of Alexander Technique Versus Feldenkrais Somatic Training in Patients With Text Neck Syndrome
Text Neck Syndrome
Recruiting
Longitudinal Stripping Massage vs. Percussion Device for Neck Pain: Ultrasound Study.
Chronic Neck Pain
RecruitingPhase 2
Effectiveness of Phenotype-based Pain Management Guidelines for Head and Neck Cancer Related Pain: a Pilot Study
Cancer Pain, Orofacial Pain
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing seated thoracic manipulation and supine specific thoracic spine manipulation in people with Neck Pain, run by Chatham University.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
neck pain (time frame: pain measure taken immediately on first visit). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 Oct 2026.