The effect of tongue and suprahyoid muscles release in the treatment of chronic non-specific neck pain: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

The mechanisms behind non-specific neck pain (NS-NP) have not yet been fully clarified. The anatomic relation between the tongue and structures that attach to the cervical spine suggests a possible clinical relation with NS-NP. This study protocol describes a randomized controlled clinical trial. The aim of the proposed study is to determine the effect of a standard treatment for chronic NS-NP combined with tongue and suprahyoid muscles release on pain intensity, cervical range of motion and neck function. Forty patients with chronic NS-NP will be randomly allocated to two groups. The experimental group (EG) will be submitted to a clinical intervention considered the gold standard for the treatment of chronic neck pain together with a tongue and suprahyoid muscles release protocol. The control group (CG) will only receive the gold standard treatment for chronic neck pain. All patients will receive six sessions of treatment twice a week and will be evaluated before and one week after the end of treatment. The primary outcome will be pain intensity measured by a numerical pain rating scale. The secondary outcomes will be the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Patient-Specific Functional Scale, Neck Disability Index and cervical range of motion. Comparisons between groups before and after treatment will demonstrate whether the tongue and suprahyoid muscles release exerts a supplementary effect on pain intensity, cervical range of motion and neck function in individuals with NS-NP. The data will be published after the study is completed. The study will support the practice of evidence-based physical therapy for individuals with NS-NP.