The Effect of a Novel Neck Strengthening Device on Clinical Outcomes in Individuals with Mechanical Neck Pain Treated with Manual Therapy and Exercise: A Randomized Controlled Trial

MIRROR will provide onsite research staff to support both ongoing and future research conducted by physical therapists enrolled in the Army-Baylor University Doctoral Fellowship in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy, as well as research led by Fellowship faculty and staff. These personnel will assist the Principal Investigator and study team with coordinating research activities, which may include clinical outcomes collection, participant recruitment, data collection and management, regulatory support, and other assigned tasks. Additionally, they will support report generation and project close-out activities.

The purpose of this study is to determine the clinical efficacy of adding a novel neck strengthening device (TopSpin 360) to a standard program of exercise and manual therapy in individuals with chronic neck pain. The primary aim is to compare neck disability index (NDI) scores between individuals receiving standard of care physical therapy alone and those receiving standard care combined with a TopSpin 360 exercise protocol. Secondary aims include comparing participant-reported outcomes, such as PROMIS-29 and PASS scores, between the two groups; evaluating differences in the amount and type of neck-related healthcare utilization over the 12-week study period; and assessing changes in maximum voluntary isometric contraction, deep neck flexor endurance, and cervical range of motion between treatment groups.