Cervical Spine Focused Treatment for Patients With Persistent Concussion Symptoms and Neck Pain
Cervical Spine Focused Treatment for Patients With Persistent Concussion Symptoms and Neck Pain: Pilot Study
University of Pittsburgh
40 participants
Aug 28, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
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.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria5
- 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
- days post injury
- English Speaking
Exclusion Criteria9
- 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
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Interventions
* Manual joint mobilization (Grades I-V) of painful and restricted cervical spine segments. * Supine manual cervical traction to stretch and mobilize the cervical spinal tissues. * Manual soft tissue mobilization of the cervical, upper thoracic and/or shoulder muscles. * Passive stretching of hypertonic muscles and active strengthening of hypotonic muscles. * Motor-control and isometric exercises to activate the deep neck flexors.
Standard Concussion Care interventions are individualized to each patient and their adjudicated profile(s)/moderating factor(s) and may include any/all of the following: * Behavioral regulation * Vestibular rehabilitation * Oculomotor rehabilitation * Exertion rehabilitation * Pharmacological management * Behavioral sleep intervention * \*Cervical spine rehabilitation (the variable of interest in this study) * Psychotherapy
Locations(4)
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NCT06616272