NAGGING NECK PAIN? AUSSIES CAN NOW GET 12 WEEKS OF FREE TREATMENT FROM HOME
If you have been living with a stiff, aching neck for months, a new national study wants to hear from you, and it could mean free neck pain treatment from the comfort of home.
Researchers at Adelaide University are recruiting adults across Australia for the ReconNECKt Trial, which is testing the best ways to ease long term neck pain.
The trial, announced on November 12, offers 12 weeks of free treatment delivered by video call.
Why neck pain is so common
Neck pain is one of those problems that can creep up quietly and then refuse to leave.
According to World Health Organization figures quoted by the researchers, around 222 million people worldwide live with chronic neck pain.
About 1.71 billion people around the world live with a musculoskeletal condition of some kind.
Lead researcher Dr Felicity Braithwaite says one of the most frustrating things is that neck pain often appears without any obvious injury or cause.
She says that despite how common it is, experts still do not have all the answers about which treatments work best.
That is exactly the gap the trial hopes to fill.
How the neck pain trial works
The study compares two treatment programs, both built around education and exercise.
Participants will have a series of free sessions over 12 weeks with a registered allied health clinician, such as a physiotherapist.
Everything happens by video call, so you can take part from home, whether you live in a capital city or the bush.
Sessions include personalised advice, education about pain and exercises you can do at home.
You will also be asked to complete online surveys at the start, then at one week, 10 weeks, 12 weeks, six months and 12 months.
That long follow up is designed to show whether the benefits actually last.
People who complete all of the study assessments receive a $50 gift voucher at the end.
Professor Tasha Stanton says there is no one size fits all solution for chronic neck pain.
"What works for one person might not work for another," she explains.
Who can take part
According to the Adelaide University trial page, you may be eligible if you are over 18 and will be living in Australia for the next 12 months.
Your neck pain needs to have lasted at least three months and must not have started after an accident or significant injury, such as a car accident, whiplash or a bad fall.
You will need a smartphone, tablet or laptop with an internet connection and a front facing camera.
You will also need a trusted person, such as a partner or housemate, who can help with some assessments and exercises.
Some people will not be eligible, including those with severe migraine, headaches or dizziness, diagnosed fibromyalgia or major surgery planned in the next 12 months.
Other serious or uncontrolled health conditions, previous spinal surgery and some nerve problems may also rule you out.
Recruitment is open until December 2027.
How to apply
To register your interest, head to the trial page and complete the short online screening survey.
The research team will then let you know whether the study is a good fit for you.
Small daily habits for a happier neck
While you wait, it can help to notice how you hold your head during the day, especially when looking down at your phone or working at a laptop.
Try raising your screen to eye level, taking regular movement breaks and gently rolling your shoulders every hour or so.
Keeping active overall, with walking, swimming or yoga, can also help many people feel less stiff.
If your neck pain is severe, getting worse, or comes with numbness, weakness, headaches or dizziness, speak to your GP or a physiotherapist rather than waiting it out.
And if you have been putting up with a sore neck for too long, this could be the nudge you need to finally get some expert help.
