Neck pain is a common problem within our society, and can be severly disabling and costly to the sufferer. The aim of this single cohort study was to investigate the effect of osteopathic management of sub-chronic and chronic neck pain on perceived pain and disability. Seventeen participants (7 male, 10 female) who had experienced intermittent or constant neck pain for a duration of longer than one month were included in this study. The participants were offered a four-week course of osteopathic treatment at the Victoria University Osteopathic Medicine Clinic and were treated by senior osteopathic students using a semi-standardised treatment protocol. A Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and Neck Disability Index (NDI) were completed prior to the initial treatment and after treatments on weeks 2 and 4.
Perceived intensity of neck pain, and perceived disability significantly reduced following four weeks of osteopathic management. This pilot study suggests that osteopathic treatment is effective for the management of chronic and sub-chronic neck pain.
This minor thesis was written by a post-graduate student as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program.