Spinal ManipulationCDTDTMNCT07034144
Chiropractic Care for Neck Pain: Comparing Diversified Technique and Drop Table Method
A study testing Drop Table Technique and Cervical Spine Manipulation in people with Spinal Manipulation and Neck Pain, run by SEFA HAKTAN HATIK at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study aims to compare the effects of two different chiropractic techniques, Diversified and Drop Table, on pain levels, cervical joint range of motion, and neck muscle strength in individuals with non-specific neck pain. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Spinal Manipulation, Neck Pain, Non Specific Neck Pain
- What is being tested?
- Drop Table Technique and Cervical Spine Manipulation
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 45 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 14 Jun 2025to 14 Aug 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Sign a voluntary informed consent form.
- Be between 18 and 65 years of age.
- Have previously consulted an orthopedist or physical therapist for neck pain.
- Have no contraindications to chiropractic interventions.
- Have no history of cervical surgery.
- Report neck pain lasting longer than 7 days.
Who cannot join
- Are under 18 or over 65 years of age.
- Have experienced cervical trauma within the last month.
- Have any systemic illness.
- Have any contraindication for chiropractic intervention (e.g., brain tumor, cervical fracture).
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Sinop University
Sinop
SEFA H HATIK, Asst. Prof., 905058761553, haktanhtk@gmail.com
SEFA H HATIK, Asst. Prof.
About this study
Official title: Comparison of Chiropractic Diversified Technique and Drop Table Application in Patients With Neck Pain
This study aims to compare the effects of two different chiropractic techniques, Diversified and Drop Table, on pain levels, cervical joint range of motion, and neck muscle strength in individuals with non-specific neck pain.
Read the detailed description
This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of two chiropractic techniques - the Diversified Technique and the Drop Table Technique - in individuals with mechanical neck pain. Mechanical neck pain is a common musculoskeletal condition associated with impaired cervical mobility, pain, and reduced quality of life.
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three arms: (1) Diversified Technique group, (2) Drop Table Technique group, and (3) control group with no intervention. The interventions will be administered twice per week for four weeks by a chiropractor following standardized protocols. All participants will undergo evaluations at baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention period.
The primary outcome measure is pain intensity and quality, assessed using the full version of the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), which evaluates sensory, affective, and evaluative components of pain. Secondary outcomes include cervical range of motion (CROM) and isometric neck muscle strength, measured with a goniometer and handheld dynamometer, respectively.
This study seeks to provide evidence on the comparative clinical effectiveness of two widely used chiropractic techniques for neck pain management. The findings may guide clinicians in selecting appropriate manual therapy approaches for patients with non-specific mechanical neck pain.
- Conditions
- Spinal Manipulation, Neck Pain, Non Specific Neck Pain, Chiropractic
- Being tested
- Drop Table Technique, Cervical Spine Manipulation
- Keywords
- Chiropractic, Neck pain, Drop Table, Spinal Manipulation
- Medical subject headings
- Neck Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Drop Table TechniqueOther
The Drop Table Technique is a chiropractic intervention that utilizes a segmented treatment table with adjustable sections that can be elevated slightly and then dropped.
During the procedure, a high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) thrust is applied while the specific segment of the table drops slightly in coordination with the thrust.
This technique aims to reduce the resistance experienced during the adjustment and to enhance the mechanical effect on targeted spinal joints.
In this study, the Drop Table Technique will be specifically applied to the cervical spine to address mechanical neck pain.
All applications will be performed by a licensed chiropractor using standardized positioning and adjustment protocols to ensure consistency across sessions.
Cervical Spine ManipulationOther
Cervical spinal manipulation (SM) will be applied with the participant supine to restrictions found on motion palpation, following the technique described by Bergmann and Peterson. The participant's head and neck will be simultaneously rotated and laterally flexed over the contact point-specifically, the posterior supramastoid groove or zygomatic arch (C0-C1), the posterior aspect of the transverse process (C1-C2), or the posterior articular pillar of superior vertebrae (C2-C7)-to the end of passive range of motion (ROM).
Subsequently, a high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust will be delivered in the direction of restricted movement. Participants with greater ROM restriction in the lateral plane will receive more laterally-to-medially directed thrusts. Participants with more restriction in rotation will be given thrusts in the direction of restricted axial rotation, and those with more restriction in extension will receive more anteriorly directed thrusts.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Diversified Group | Experimental | Participants in this group will receive chiropractic treatment using the Diversified Technique.
The intervention will be applied twice per week for 4 weeks by a chiropractor. The treatment will focus on cervical spine adjustments targeting areas of joint dysfunction associated with mechanical neck pain.
Each session will last approximately 20 minutes. Standardized protocols will be followed to ensure consistency. Receives: Other: Cervical Spine Manipulation |
| Drop Table Group | Experimental | Participants in this group will receive chiropractic treatment using the Drop Table Technique.
The intervention will be applied twice per week for 4 weeks by a chiropractor. The treatment will involve high-velocity, low-amplitude thrusts delivered with the assistance of a segmented drop table designed to reduce resistance and enhance precision during spinal adjustments.
The focus will be on the cervical spine region related to mechanical neck pain. Each session will last approximately 20 minutes, following standardized protocols to ensure treatment consistency. Receives: Other: Drop Table Technique |
| Control Group | No intervention | This group did not undergo any interventions. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ)
Pain will be assessed using the full version of the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), which evaluates both the sensory, affective, evaluative, and miscellaneous components of pain.
The MPQ includes:
A list of 78 pain descriptors grouped into 20 categories, The Pain Rating Index (PRI), derived from the sum of rank values for selected descriptors, A Present Pain Intensity (PPI) score, rated on a scale of 0 (no pain) to 5 (excruciating), A Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for overall pain intensity. The primary outcome will be the change in total PRI and PPI scores from baseline to the end of the 4-week intervention.
Measure Type:
Ordinal and Continuous (PRI: rank-based score; PPI: 0-5 scale)
Unit of Measure:
Score (no unit)
Measured: Baseline and Week 4
Secondary outcomes (2)
Cervical Range of Motion
Measured in degrees using a goniometer in all planes of cervical motion.
Measured: Baseline and 4th week
Isometric Neck Muscle Strength
Isometric neck muscle strength in flexion, extension, and right and left lateral flexion will be manually assessed using a microFET2 handheld dynamometer (Hoggan Health Industries).
Measured: Baseline and 4th week
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Jun 2025
- Study start14 Jun 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion14 Jul 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion14 Aug 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Spinal ManipulationStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- SEFA HAKTAN HATIK
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, SEFA HAKTAN HATIK, Sinop University
- Investigators
- SEFA H HATIK, Asst. Prof., Principal investigator, Sinop University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07034144
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- CMT0007
- Acronym
- CDTDTM
- Status last verified
- Jun 2025
- First submitted
- 13 Jun 2025
- Last updated
- 24 Jun 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 24 Jun 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparison of Chiropractic Diversified Technique and Drop Table Application in Patients With Neck Pain
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07034144
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CDTDTM / CMT0007
- Conditions
- Spinal Manipulation, Neck Pain, Non Specific Neck Pain, Chiropractic
- Keywords
- Chiropractic, Neck pain, Drop Table, Spinal Manipulation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- SEFA HAKTAN HATIKUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 14 Jun 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 14 Jul 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 14 Aug 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 24 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to compare the effects of two different chiropractic techniques, Diversified and Drop Table, on pain levels, cervical joint range of motion, and neck muscle strength in individuals with non-specific neck pain.
Detailed description
This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of two chiropractic techniques - the Diversified Technique and the Drop Table Technique - in individuals with mechanical neck pain. Mechanical neck pain is a common musculoskeletal condition associated with impaired cervical mobility, pain, and reduced quality of life.
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three arms: (1) Diversified Technique group, (2) Drop Table Technique group, and (3) control group with no intervention. The interventions will be administered twice per week for four weeks by a chiropractor following standardized protocols. All participants will undergo evaluations at baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention period.
The primary outcome measure is pain intensity and quality, assessed using the full version of the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), which evaluates sensory, affective, and evaluative components of pain. Secondary outcomes include cervical range of motion (CROM) and isometric neck muscle strength, measured with a goniometer and handheld dynamometer, respectively.
This study seeks to provide evidence on the comparative clinical effectiveness of two widely used chiropractic techniques for neck pain management. The findings may guide clinicians in selecting appropriate manual therapy approaches for patients with non-specific mechanical neck pain.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Diversified Group | Experimental | Other: Cervical Spine ManipulationParticipants in this group will receive chiropractic treatment using the Diversified Technique. The intervention will be applied twice per week for 4 weeks by a chiropractor. The treatment will focus on cervical spine adjustments targeting areas of joint dysfunction associated with mechanical neck pain. Each session will last approximately 20 minutes. Standardized protocols will be followed to ensure consistency. |
| Drop Table Group | Experimental | Other: Drop Table TechniqueParticipants in this group will receive chiropractic treatment using the Drop Table Technique. The intervention will be applied twice per week for 4 weeks by a chiropractor. The treatment will involve high-velocity, low-amplitude thrusts delivered with the assistance of a segmented drop table designed to reduce resistance and enhance precision during spinal adjustments. The focus will be on the cervical spine region related to mechanical neck pain. Each session will last approximately 20 minutes, following standardized protocols to ensure treatment consistency. |
| Control Group | No intervention | –This group did not undergo any interventions. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Sign a voluntary informed consent form.
- Be between 18 and 65 years of age.
- Have previously consulted an orthopedist or physical therapist for neck pain.
- Have no contraindications to chiropractic interventions.
- Have no history of cervical surgery.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Are under 18 or over 65 years of age.
- Have experienced cervical trauma within the last month.
- Have any systemic illness.
- Have any contraindication for chiropractic intervention (e.g., brain tumor, cervical fracture).
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Drop Table TechniqueThe Drop Table Technique is a chiropractic intervention that utilizes a segmented treatment table with adjustable sections that can be elevated slightly and then dropped. During the procedure, a high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) thrust is applied while the specific segment of the table drops slightly in coordination with the thrust. This technique aims to reduce the resistance experienced during the adjustment and to enhance the mechanical effect on targeted spinal joints. In this study, the Drop Table Technique will be specifically applied to the cervical spine to address mechanical neck pain. All applications will be performed by a licensed chiropractor using standardized positioning and adjustment protocols to ensure consistency across sessions. | Other | Drop Table Group |
| Cervical Spine ManipulationCervical spinal manipulation (SM) will be applied with the participant supine to restrictions found on motion palpation, following the technique described by Bergmann and Peterson. The participant's head and neck will be simultaneously rotated and laterally flexed over the contact point-specifically, the posterior supramastoid groove or zygomatic arch (C0-C1), the posterior aspect of the transverse process (C1-C2), or the posterior articular pillar of superior vertebrae (C2-C7)-to the end of passive range of motion (ROM). Subsequently, a high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust will be delivered in the direction of restricted movement. Participants with greater ROM restriction in the lateral plane will receive more laterally-to-medially directed thrusts. Participants with more restriction in rotation will be given thrusts in the direction of restricted axial rotation, and those with more restriction in extension will receive more anteriorly directed thrusts. | Other | Diversified Group |
Primary outcome
McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 4
Pain will be assessed using the full version of the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), which evaluates both the sensory, affective, evaluative, and miscellaneous components of pain. The MPQ includes: A list of 78 pain descriptors grouped into 20 categories, The Pain Rating Index (PRI), derived from the sum of rank values for selected descriptors, A Present Pain Intensity (PPI) score, rated on a scale of 0 (no pain) to 5 (excruciating), A Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for overall pain intensity. The primary outcome will be the change in total PRI and PPI scores from baseline to the end of the 4-week intervention. Measure Type: Ordinal and Continuous (PRI: rank-based score; PPI: 0-5 scale) Unit of Measure: Score (no unit)
2 secondary outcomes
Cervical Range of Motion
Time frame: Baseline and 4th week
Isometric Neck Muscle Strength
Time frame: Baseline and 4th week
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 24 Jun 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
SEFA H HATIK, Asst. Prof. principal investigator
Sinop University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Drop Table Technique and Cervical Spine Manipulation in people with Spinal Manipulation and Neck Pain, run by SEFA HAKTAN HATIK at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Jun 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact SEFA H HATIK, Asst. Prof. (+905058761553, haktanhtk@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) (time frame: Baseline and Week 4). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Jun 2025.