Trajectories of Pain Intensity Over 1 Year in Adults With Disabling Subacute or Chronic Neck Pain.

"The authors declare no conflict of interest."

"Supported by Swedish Research Council (VR), Stockholm, Sweden, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (FORTE), Stockholm, Sweden, and The Swedish Naprapathic Association, Stockholm, Sweden."

"The Stockholm Neck Trial (STONE, Trial registration number: ISRCTN01453590. Registered July 3, 2014) recruited 621 participants from the general population with nonspecific disabling neck pain at enrollment (at least 30 days of duration) and regardless of previous episodes of pain. The study was advertised in local newspapers in large public companies in Stockholm. Interested individuals contacted a study coordinator who screened for eligibility and referred participants to a study therapist for a clinical assessment. Participants were included if they rated their pain intensity ≥2/10 and disability due to pain ≥1/10 on Numerical Rating Scales (NRS) based on questions adapted from the Chronic Pain Questionnaire, which measured current pain intensity, average pain intensity in the past month, and worst pain intensity in the past month, and pain-related disability related to general daily activities, pain-related disability related to work, and pain-related disability related to social activities. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 different groups: (1) Swedish massage, (2) strengthening and stretching exercises, (3) a combination of (1) and (2), and (4) advice to stay active. Blinding was not possible due to the nature of the interventions. Up to 6 sessions of therapy were delivered over 6 weeks (up to 3 for advice to stay active), and participants completed questionnaires at baseline, 7 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. A thorough description of the procedures of the trial is available in the study protocol."