cervical syndrome; segmental instability; fracture or surgery of the cervical spine; contradictions to acupuncture; drug, PT or manual treatment in the last 4 weeks Viljanen et al., 2003 [31] Clinical: 6 Non-Clinical: 0 Citations: 117 8/10 Assess the effectiveness of dynamic muscle training and relaxation training in chronic NP N = 393 All females 45 years Female sex; aged 30 to 60 years; suffer from chronic non-specific NP > 12 weeks Cancer; major trauma; rheumatic disease; neural entrapment; major rehabilitation in the previous 3 months Hurwitz et al., 2002 [45] Clinical: 0 Non-Clinical: 6 Citations: 112 7/10 Compare the relative effectiveness of cervical SM and mobilization in acute, subacute and chronic NP N = 336 231 females 105 males 46 years Aged 18 to 70 years; NP, defined as pain within the upper thoracic spine to the occiput and the surrounding musculature; members of health maintenance organization; had sought care at one of the study sites; had not received NP treatment in the past month NP due to fracture, severe spondyloarthropathy, tumor, infection, or other non-mechanical cause; progressive neurological deficit, myelopathy, herniated nucleus pulposus, or severe incapacitating pain; severe coexisting disease; previous electrotherapy treatment; blood coagulation disorder; use of anticoagulant or corticosteroids; stroke or transient ischemic attacks; inability to read English; pain involving third-party liability or compensation Diagnostics 2019, 9, 186 8 of 23 Table 1. Cont. Study Authors’ Institutions Number of Citations PEDro Score Aim Participants (Sex and Mean Age) Inclusion Criteria Exclusion Criteria White et al., 2004 [46] Clinical: 2 Non-Clinical: 2 Citations: 104 7/10 Compare acupuncture and placebo in chronic NP N = 135 87 females 48 males 53 years Aged 18 to 80 years; mechanical NP > 2 months; pain score > 30 mm on a Visual Analogue Scale for 5 of 7 days before treatment Previous neck fracture or surgery; cervical congenital abnormality; uncontrolled low back pain; contraindication to acetaminophen; systemic illness, e.g., rheumatoid arthritis; ongoing litigation or disability claims; current or recent manual neck treatment or steroid use (oral or local injection); or pregnancy Evans et al., 2002 [47] Clinical: 1 Non-Clinical: 3 Citations: 102 7/10 Compare the effects of SM combined with low-tech rehabilitative exercise, MedX rehabilitative exercise, or SM alone in chronic NP N = 191 113 females 78 males 44 years Aged 20 to 65 years; mechanical NP > 12 weeks; no specific, identifiable aetiology (i.e., inflammatory disease, infection); pain reproduced by neck movement or provocation tests and localized between the most inferior part of the occipital bone and T1 spinous process NP referred from peripheral joints or viscera; progressive neurologic deficits; severe osteopenia; vascular disease of the neck or upper extremity; significant infectious disease or other severe disabling health conditions; previous neck surgery; inability to work because of NP; current or pending litigation, SM or exercise therapy within 3 months; concurrent treatment for NP by other health care providers Manchikanti et al., 2010 [38] Clinical: 3 Non-Clinical: 1 Citations: 96 10/10 Evaluate the clinical outcomes of therapeutic cervical medial branch blocks with local anesthetic with or without steroids in chronic NP of facet joint origin N = 120 89 females 31 males 45 years Function-limiting NP > 6 months; 18 years or older; to provide written informed consent; positive results with controlled diagnostic cervical facet joint nerve blocks (80% pain relief and the ability to perform previously painful movements) Disc herniation with radicular pain; symptomatic spinal stenosis; neck surgery within 3 months; uncontrolled major depression or psychiatric disorders; heavy opioid usage; acute or uncontrolled medical illness; chronic severe conditions; inability to stay in a prone position; history of adverse reactions to local anesthetics or steroids; or pregnant or lactating women Hoving et al., 2006 [48] Clinical: 0 Non-Clinical: 11 Citations: 92 8/10 Compare the effectiveness of manual therapy, PT and continued care by the GP over a 1 year period N = 183 111 females 72 males 45 years Aged 18 to 70 years; pain and/or stiffness in the neck > 2 weeks; nonspecific neck complaints reproducible during active or passive range of motion; willingness to participate No specific cause for the pain, e.g., systemic disease, fracture, or organic disorders; a history of trauma or additional dominant complaints, such as headache or nonradicular pain; previous neck surgery; manual or physiotherapy in the previous 6 months Diagnostics 2019, 9, 186 9 of 23 Table 1. Cont. Study Authors’ Institutions Number of Citations PEDro Score Aim Participants (Sex and Mean Age) Inclusion Criteria Exclusion Criteria Chiu et al., 2005 [49] Clinical: 0 Non-clinical: 3 Citations: 86 7/10 Evaluate the efficacy of a neck exercise program in chronic NP N = 145 100 females 45 males 44 years Aged 20 to 70 years; NP (of various intensity of pain) > 3 months; able to read Chinese Previous neck or upper back (T1-T6) injury; inflammatory condition, e.g., rheumatoid arthritis; former neck surgery; a malignancy or congenital spinal abnormality; parallel NP treatment; contraindication for infrared irradiation; neurologic symptoms, e.g., muscle weakness or changes in spinal reflex jerks; other musculoskeletal problems; acute NP with no freedom of movement; training or SM for NP within 6 months; work-related injuries Bronfort et al., 2012 [50] Clinical: 3 Non-clinical: 3 Citations: 81 7/10 Determine the relative efficacy of SM, medication, and home exercise with advice for acute and subacute NP in the short and long term. N = 272 178 females 94 males 48 years Aged 18 to 65 years; primary symptom of mechanical, nonspecific NP equivalent to grades I or II of the Bone and Joint Decade 2000–2010 Task Force on NP and Its Associated Disorders classification; NP between 2–12 weeks duration; NP ≥ 3 on a 0 to 10 scale; not seeking additional NP treatment Cervical spine instability; fracture; NP referred from peripheral joints or viscera; progressive neurologic deficits: cardiac disease requiring medical treatment; blood clotting