Therapeutic effectiveness of a ‘Society of Musculoskeletal Medicine (SOMM) approach’ to mobilization versus a ‘Maitland approach’ in the treatment of neck pain: A comparative pilot study

Abstract Objective A pilot trial to compare a ‘Society of Musculoskeletal Medicine (SOMM) approach’ to mobilization with a ‘Maitland approach’ in neck pain patients. Method Participants were adults with neck pain (central, bilateral, or unilateral neck or scapula pain, without neurology). Five participants were randomly assigned to a SOMM approach or a Maitland approach of manual therapy. All received four weekly treatments and proven adjunct therapies. Pain (visual analogue scale) and function (neck disability index) were assessed before each treatment and after the fourth. Results Irrespective of approach all subjects demonstrated a reduction in pain (to a clinically important level) and an increase in function. The low power of this pilot did not permit differences between groups to be tested. Discussion It would be feasible to investigate these promising trends with a future trial, providing two main limitations are addressed; firstly, recruitment and secondly, the consent process.