A randomised controlled trial of chiropractic neck manipulation for improvement of neck pain, postural and dynamic balance, and cognition in the elderly: A feasibility study

INTERVENTION: Chiropractic manipulation of the neck will be administered to the experimental group with or without massage. Chiropractic manipulation will consist of gentle application of manual high velocity low amplitude thrust procedures commonly practised by chiropractors. Treatment will be delivered twice a week over a period of 8 weeks. All treatment sessions will take 30 minutes each. The decision to include or exclude massage will depend on the clinical judgement of the treating investigator in determining whether hypertonicity exists in the muscles of the neck. CONDITION: Chronic neck pain Geriatric falls Non‐specific dizziness PRIMARY OUTCOME: Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) SECONDARY OUTCOME: Centre of Pressure changes using a forceplate Falls Efficacy Scale International for fear of falling Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Stroop Tests for cognitive function Neck Disability Index for neck pain Oswestry Disability Index for low back pain Quality of Life as measured by the RAND‐36 questionnaire Range of Motion using a digital goniometer Satisfaction with treatment using a five point scale. Tenderness over the cervical spine using a pressure algometer Visual Analogue Scale for dizziness Visual Analogue Scale for low back pain Visual Analogue Scale for neck pain Visual Analogue Scale for tinnitus INCLUSION CRITERIA: Neck pain and concommitant dizziness or unsteadiness of three months duration or longer, whether constant or intermittent.