title: [Randomized clinical trial for primary care patients with neck pain: manual therapy versus electrical stimulation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness of manual therapy (MT) versus transcutaneous electrical nervous stimulation (TENS) in reducing the intensity of pain in patients with subacute or chronic neck pain (NP) attended at primary care physiotherapy units (PCPU).
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen PCPU in 4 health districts of the Community of Madrid, Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety patients with subacute or chronic NP attended. Lost after intervention: 3.
  
  
  METHODS
  At random, 47 patients were allocated to MT treatment and 43 to TENS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Social and demographic characteristics and prognosis variables in the intervention groups were measured. Intensity of pain before and after intervention was calculated by mean values on the analogue visual scale (present moment, average and worst pain of the last 2 weeks). Side-effects were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Difference between before-and-after pain was 21.83 mm (95% CI, 13.71-29.95) for the group treated with Transcutaneous electrical nervous stimulation and 22.87 mm (95% CI, 17.11-28.64) for manual therapy. The difference in averages on comparing the 2 procedures for improvement was 1.04 (95% CI, -8.66% to 10.75%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TENS and MT significantly reduce patients' perceived intensity of pain, although there were no differences between the 2 groups.There are no conclusive results for the alternative physiotherapy treatments that determine a clear strategy of intervention.
authors.affiliation: Técnico de Salud de Atención Primaria, Area 3 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain. eescortell.gapm03@salud.madrid.org
authors.forename: Esperanza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Escortell Mayor
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lebrijo Pérez
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pérez Martín
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asúnsolo del Barco
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riesgo Fuertes
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saa Requejo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D011320:Primary Health Care