Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines on Selected Rehabilitation Interventions for Neck Pain

Philadelphia Panel – John Albright, Richard Allman, Richard Paul Bonfiglio, Alicia Conill, Bruce Dobkin, Andrew A Guccione, Scott M Hasson, Randolph Russo, Paul Shekelle,  Jeffrey L Susman, Lucie Brosseau, Peter Tugwell, George A Wells, Vivian A Robinson, Ian D Graham, Beverley J Shea, Jessie McGowan,Joan Peterson,Lucie Poulin, Michel Tousignant, Hélène Corriveau, Michelle Morin, Lucie Pelland, Lucie Laferrière, Lynn Casimiro, Louis E Tremblay.

A structured and rigorous methodology was developed  for the formulation of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (EBCPGs), then was used to develop EBCPGs for selected rehabilitation interventions for the management of neck pain. For neck pain, therapeutic exercises were the only intervention with clinically important benefit relative to a control (grade A for pain and function, grade B for patient global assessment). There was good agreement with this recommendation from practitioners (93%). For several interventions and indications (eg, thermotherapy, therapeutic ultrasound, massage, electrical stimulation), there was a lack of evidence regarding efficacy. The authors concluded that this methodology of developing EBCPGs provides a structured approach to assessing the literature and developing guidelines that incorporates clinicians' feedback and is widely acceptable to practicing clinicians. Further well-designed RCTs are warranted regarding the use of several interventions for patients with neck pain where evidence was insufficient to make recommendations.

Physical Therapy, Vol. 81, No. 10, October 2001, pp. 1701-1717

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