Ongoing Clinical Trials for Neck Pain
Currently, there are 2 ongoing clinical trials investigating treatments for neck pain. These studies are exploring the effectiveness of different approaches, including hands-on chiropractic therapy and pain-relief medications like ibuprofen, to help reduce pain intensity and improve recovery for individuals experiencing acute neck discomfort.
Clinical trial locations
- Italy
- Norway
Study on Chiropractic Therapy and Ibuprofen for Acute Neck Pain in Adults
This trial is being conducted in Norway and focuses on comparing different treatment approaches for adults experiencing acute neck pain. The study aims to determine which treatment is most effective in reducing pain intensity over a two-week period.
Main focus: The trial investigates the effectiveness of Chiropractic Spinal Manipulative Therapy (CSMT) compared to ibuprofen medication in treating acute neck pain. Participants are divided into four groups: one receives actual chiropractic treatment, another receives a sham (fake) version of the treatment, a third group takes ibuprofen, and the fourth receives a placebo. Researchers monitor pain levels from the beginning of treatment through two weeks, and continue to assess pain reduction at various intervals up to 168 days after treatment.
Investigational treatments: The study examines CSMT, a hands-on therapy where a chiropractor applies controlled force to spinal joints to improve movement and reduce pain. The medication being tested is ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that reduces inflammation and pain. The ibuprofen is administered as 600 mg film-coated tablets taken orally.
Who can participate: Adults between 18 and 59 years old with acute neck pain that doesn’t spread to other body parts may be eligible. The pain must have started within the past two weeks and be moderate to severe (scoring 4 or higher on a 0-10 scale). Participants should have been pain-free for at least four weeks before the current episode and should not have received chiropractic treatment in the past three months. Women must not be pregnant, confirmed by a pregnancy test if needed.
Who cannot participate: The trial excludes people under 18 years old, those with other serious health conditions that could interfere with the study, pregnant or breastfeeding women, individuals who recently had neck surgery, those currently taking medications that might affect study results, people with a history of allergic reactions to the study medications, and anyone unable to follow the study procedures.
Study Comparing the Speed of Action of Ibuprofen Lysine and Ibuprofen in Treating Acute Pain in Children
This clinical trial is taking place in Italy and focuses on children experiencing acute pain. While this study examines acute pain in general (including sore throat, headache, ear pain, toothache, and injury-related pain), the findings may be relevant to understanding pain management approaches.
Main focus: The trial compares how quickly two different forms of ibuprofen work in children. One form is ibuprofen lysine suspension, and the other is standard ibuprofen suspension. The primary goal is to measure how fast each medication provides pain relief, with the first assessment occurring just five minutes after administration. Additional assessments are conducted at 10, 20, and 30 minutes. The study is designed to determine whether ibuprofen lysine works at least as fast as regular ibuprofen.
Investigational treatments: The study examines two liquid medications. Lysin ibuprofen suspension is a modified form of ibuprofen designed to be absorbed faster by the body, potentially providing quicker pain relief. Standard ibuprofen suspension is the comparison medication. Both are given orally in liquid form suitable for children.
Who can participate: Children aged 4 to 12 years who come to the emergency room with acute pain as their main or additional symptom may be eligible. This includes pain from sore throat, headache, ear pain, toothache, or injury. The child’s pain level must be 4 or higher on a scale of 1 to 10. Both parents or guardians and the child must provide written consent, understanding the study’s purpose, risks, and requirements. The child must be willing and able to follow study procedures.
Who cannot participate: Children outside the 2-12 age range cannot participate. The trial also excludes children with other serious health conditions that might interfere with the study, those currently taking other medications that could affect results, children with allergies to ibuprofen or similar medications, those with a history of stomach problems like ulcers or bleeding, children with kidney or liver problems, those with asthma worsened by aspirin or NSAIDs, and children already participating in another clinical trial.
Summary
These two ongoing clinical trials represent different approaches to understanding pain management. The Norwegian study specifically targets acute neck pain in adults, comparing hands-on chiropractic therapy with medication-based treatment using ibuprofen. This trial offers insights into whether manual therapy can be as effective as pharmaceutical intervention for this common condition.
The Italian study, while focused on acute pain in children rather than specifically neck pain, contributes to the broader understanding of how different formulations of the same medication (ibuprofen) may work at different speeds. Both trials emphasize the importance of ibuprofen as a pain management tool, though they target different age groups and pain types.
Geographically, these trials are distributed across Northern and Southern Europe, with each country hosting one study. The Norwegian trial is expected to conclude by the end of 2024, while completion dates for the Italian study were not specified in the available data.
