A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials of Manipulative Therapy for Patients with Chronic Neck Pain

Review question / Objective: Manipulative therapy has been increasingly applied to alleviate those who suffer from chronic neck pain. This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed to determine the efficacy of manipulative therapy for chronic neck pain. P: Patients with Chronic Neck Pain. I: Manipulative therapy. C: Exercise, rehabilitation, or other physical therapy. O: Pain intensity and Neck disability. S: Randomized controlled trials. Condition being studied: Pain in the neck is a disagreeable sensory and emotional experience associated with the potential or actual damage of tissue that affects the cervical region. Pain in the neck that lasts for a long period is a serious problem for public health that causes a lot of pressure. Manipulative therapy is usually considered an alternative treatment option with the advantages of fewer verse effects and lower treatment costs compared to exercise. Therefore, this study retrieved the relevant randomized controlled trials of manipulative therapy in the treatment of chronic neck pain and conducted a comprehensive quantitative analysis to offer an evidence-based reference for the clinical application of manipulative therapy.