Table 1

Summary of Included Trials

Reference
Trial Design
Jadad Score
Patients/Problems
Interventions
Main Outcome Measures
Follow-Up Period
Main Results
Comments
Conclusion of Study

Vernon (1990)22
RCT, 2 parallel groups
1
9 with mechanical neck pain
A) HVLA rotational manipulation B) oscillatory mobilisation
Pressure pain threshold
None
Treatment A improved pressure pain threshold more than B
Pilot 1 treatment only
Manipulation superior to mobilisation
Cassidy (1991)23
RCT, 2 parallel groups
1
100 with mechanical neck pain and radiation into trapezius
A) HVLA rotational manipulation B) PIR to improve cervical ROM
NRS-101 for pain
Cervical ROM
None
Both treatments improved cervical ROM Treatment A superior to B in relieving pain
Pilot 1 treatment only
Observer blind
Manipulation superior to mobilisation in relieving pain
Both equal in improving cervical ROM
Yurkiw (1996)24
RCT, 2 parallel groups
2
14 with unilateral mechanical neck pain
A) diversified HVLA manipulation B) Activator
Cervical lateral flexion
VAS for pain
None
Both treatments improved pain and lateral flexion equally
Pilot 1 treatment only
Observer blind
No difference between HVLA and Activator
Wood (2001)25
RCT, 2 parallel groups
0
30 with mechanical neck pain and restricted ROM
A) diversified HVLA manipulation B) Activator
NRS-101 for pain
McGill
Neck Disability Index
Cervical ROM
1 month
Both treatments had an equal positive effect
Pilot maximum 8 treatments over 4 weeks
Non-blinded examiner
No difference between HVLA and Activator
Hurwitz (2002)26
2 × 2 × 2 factorial design
3
336 with mechanical neck pain
A) HVLA manipulation with heat B) HVLA manipulation without heat C) HVLA manipulation with EMS D) HVLA manipulation without EMS E) Mobilisation with heat F) Mobilisation without heat G) Mobilisation with EMS H) Mobilisation without EMS
11-point NRS
Neck Disability Index
SF-36
Adverse reactions
Satisfaction with care
Patient global assessment
6 months
Both treatments have comparable outcomes
Heat and EMS add nothing to treatment
Limited to HMO patients
At least 1 treatment
Examiner blinded?
Manipulation and mobilisation give comparable clinical outcomes

Gemmell and Miller Chiropractic & Osteopathy 2006 14:7   doi:10.1186/1746-1340-14-7