THE EFFECT OF TACTILE ACUITY TRAINING ON PAIN INTENSITY, DISABILITY AND RANGE OF MOTION IN CHRONIC NECK PAIN

Kübra Canlı, Can Filiz
Purpose:

This study investigated the effect of tactile acuity training on pain intensity, disability, and range of motion in people with chronic neck pain.This study investigated the effect of tactile acuity training on pain intensity, disability, and range of motion in people with chronic neck pain.

Methods:

Eligible participants (n=38) were randomly allocated to an intervention group (n=19) or a control group (n=19). The intervention group received tactile acuity training three times a week, whereas the control group received no intervention. The painful side of the neck was recorded as “painful side,” and the other side of the pain was recorded as the “non-painful side”. If people suffer from bilateral neck pain, the most painful side was recorded as the “painful side”. Depending on the normality, the within-group differences were analyzed using the Paired Samples t-test or the Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks test, and between-group differences were analyzed using the Independent Samples t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test. 

Results:

The within-group analyses showed reduced pain intensity (p= 0.005) and disability (p=0.005). However, as the unexpected results, cervical lateral flexion on the painful side (p= 0.031), and cervical rotation on the non-painful side (p= 0.013) also decreased in the intervention group. The between-group analysis revealed reduced pain intensity (p= 0.024) and reduced cervical lateral flexion in the non-painful side in the intervention group compared to the control group (p= 0.036). There were no other within and between-group differences.


Conclusion(s):

Although tactile acuity training reduces pain intensity and disability, it may also decrease the cervical range of motion. 

Implications:

Tactile acuity training reduces pain intensity and disability, but the neck range of motion should be taken into account during tactile acuity training in people with chronic neck pain. Although tactile training could be useful for pain relief and disability in chronic neck pain patients, it would not be considered as a whole treatment option in physiotherapy of chronic neck pain. Other physiotherapy interventions in addition to tactile training may be performed to increase cervical range of motion for good outcome results.

Funding acknowledgements:
There was no funding provided for this study from any source.
Keywords:
sensory retraining
rehabilitation
pain
Primary topic:
Pain and pain management
Second topic:
Musculoskeletal
Third topic:
Musculoskeletal: spine
Did this work require ethics approval?:
Yes
Name the institution and ethics committee that approved your work:
Hacettepe University Clinical Research Ethics Committee
Provide the ethics approval number:
2022/01-09
Has any of this material been/due to be published or presented at another national or international conference prior to the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025?:
No

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