Combined Effects of Virtual Reality and Motor Imagery in Patients With Non-specific Neck Pain

Summary

Non-specific neck pain is the most common musculoskeletal symptom which can cause limited cervical mobility, impaired functional status and stress at work. Virtual reality and motor imagery are unique technologies which have beneficial effects on the treatment of non-specific neck pain. Virtual reality is a simulated 3D environment that enables users to explore and interact with a virtual surrounding while motor imagery (MI) is a dynamic mental process of an action, without its actual motor execution. This study aims to investigate the combined effects of Virtual Reality (VR) and Motor Imagery Techniques (MI) with Routine Physical Therapy (RPT) in patients with Non-specific neck pain. This randomized clinical trial will be carried at Railway General Hospital, Rawalpindi on 93 participants meeting the inclusion criteria included in the study through probability convenience sampling technique. 3 groups of participants assigned ramdomly will receive interventions for three days a week for 6 weeks. Group A will receive virtual reality (VR) and motor imagery (MI) along with routine physical therapy for . Group B participants will receive VR along with routine physical therapy while Group C will receive MI along with routine physical therapy. Total treatment time will be 40 minutes. Outcome measure tools will be Numeric pain rating scale to measure pain, the Tampa scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) for the measurement of kinesiophobia and Neck disability index for disability and functional status.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age of the patients should be 18-50 years
* Both females and males are included
* Patient should have a consistent pain for 3 months or more.
* Patient having non-specific neck pain.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Specific neck pain caused by metastasis, neoplasia, infectious or inflammatory disorders, bone fractures or traumatic precedents with neck injuries (2)
* Positive neurological signs or evidence of spinal compression (abnormal diffuse sensitivity, hyperreflexia, or diffuse weakness)
* Cervical osteoarthritis
* Spondylarthritis
* Neck pain associated with vertigo (vestibular involvement)
* Neck pain associated with whiplash injuries
* Previous cervical surgeries (2)
* Headaches before the onset of neck pain and without cervical origin
* Inability to provide informed consent

Conditions4

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