NCT05468684

PROCO Neck: The Course and Neuroplasticity in Neck Pain-Associated Disorders and Whiplash-Associated Disorders

Not yet recruiting Last updated 21 July 2022

What this trial tests

trial testing no intervention in Neck Pain in 168 participants. Not yet recruiting.

Timeline

1 September 2022

Primary endpoint
31 May 2024

31 May 2026

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	University of applied sciences
Status	Not yet recruiting
Study type	OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment	168
Start date	1 September 2022
Primary completion	31 May 2024
Estimated completion	31 May 2026
Sites	1 location across Switzerland

Drugs / interventions tested

• no intervention

Conditions studied

• Neck Pain — all drugs for Neck Pain →
• Whiplash — all drugs for Whiplash →
• Pain, Acute — all drugs for Pain, Acute →
• Psychosocial Functioning — all drugs for Psychosocial Functioning →

Sponsor

University of applied sciences

Who can join

Adults 18 to 65, any sex, with Neck Pain or Whiplash. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

Neck pain-associated disorders (NAD) and whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) are major health problems. NAD has a lifetime prevalence of 54%. Although the majority of patients recovers within the first three months, a minority develops persistent pain. WAD, in contrast, is reported less frequently, but patients are often suffering more badly. Patients with chronic symptoms represent a considerable burden in terms of pain, suffering, health care needs, and social costs. Findings on the natural course of NAD and WAD reflect the necessity to identify factors besides pain related to the persistence of symptoms. First, alterations of input and processing of multiple sensory modalities causing movement control impairment can result in persistent symptoms and affect the quality of life. Besides, findings of psychosocial factors predictive of pain outcomes support the growing body of research proposing a bidirectional relationship between somatic and psychosocial variables. In particular, there is a pressing need to investigate pain-related activity patterns, besides fear-avoidance behavior in NAD and WAD. Maladaptive activity pattern have an impact on on pain and disability in the long-term prognosis. Mt important, given the high prevalence of NAD and WAD, the cortical representation of the cervical spine has not yet been investigated and, reports on neuroplasticity remain scarce. These shortcomings should be addressed to provide evidence for the temporal aspect of neuroplasticity and its involvement in pain persistence.

Hypotheses:

We hypothesize I. that impaired sensorimotor abilities, mental health at baseline increase pain intensity and disability during measurement.

II. that maladaptive pain-related activity patterns avoidance and overactivity at baseline are prognostic factors for pain persistence and disability.

III. that the WAD cohort shows more depression, anxiety and stress compared to the NAD cohort.

Publications & conference data

3 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. Prognostic value of activity patterns and stress measures for persistent pain and disability in acute neck pain: a 3-month follow-up study.
   Morf R, Kernwein C, Jaeger J, Reicherzer L, et al · · 2025 · cited 1× · PMID 41322119 · DOI 10.3389/fpain.2025.1686389
2. Frequencies of persistence, activity pacing, fear avoidance and general stress in acute neck pain.
   Rita M, Leah R, Jürgen D, Monika H, et al · · 2025 · cited 1× · PMID 40606649 · DOI 10.1016/j.cpnec.2025.100308
3. Activity Patterns and Stress-Prognostic Factors for Pain Persistence and Disability in Acute Neck Pain: A 1-Year Prospective Cohort Study.
   Morf R, Reicherzer L, Degenfellner J, Hotz-Boendermaker S. · · 2026 · PMID 42175688 · DOI 10.1002/ejp.70303