distortion, or violent attack); neck nerve root compression; persistent headache linked with trauma; medication overuse; severe physical and/or mental illness; trigeminal neuralgia; cluster headache; alcohol and drugs abuse; breastfeeding; inability to speak Danish; pregnancy Diagnostics 2019, 9, 186 12 of 23 Table 2. Cont. Study Authors’ Institutions Number of Citations PEDro Score Aim Participants Inclusion Criteria Exclusion Criteria Lauche et al., 2016 [55] Clinical: 1 Non-Clinical: 8 Citations: 7 7/10 Evaluate the efficacy of Tai Chi for treating chronic NP N = 114 91 females 23 males 49 years Age > 18 years; nonspecific NP > 3 consecutive months for at least 5 days a week; NP > 45 mm on a 0 to 100 mm VAS NP caused by trauma, disc protrusion, whiplash, spinal deformity, stenosis, neoplasm, neurological disorder, rheumatic or active severe affective disorder, addiction, psychosis, or oncologic disease; invasive spinal treatment within 4 weeks; spinal surgery in the last year; new or modified drug regimen; opioids intake; regular practice of Tai Chi, Qigong, or Yoga within 6 months; any disability precluding exercise; pregnancy Lauche et al., 2016 [56] Clinical: 3 Non-Clinical: 5 Citations: 3 6/10 Assess the efficacy of the Alexander Technique, local heat and guided imagery in patients with chronic non-specific NP N = 72 65 females 7 males 41 years Aged 18 to 50 years; non-specific NP > 3 months; NP intensity > 40 mm on a 100 mm VAS NP caused by disc protrusion or prolapse; spinal congenital deformity; spinal stenosis; whiplash; neoplasm, inflammatory rheumatic disease; neurological disorder; active oncologic disease; affective disorder; addiction; psychosis; previous spinal surgery or invasive spinal treatment within 3 weeks; ongoing application for disability pension; previous Alexander technique experience; participation in other clinical trials; pregnancy Monticone et al., 2017 [57] Clinical: 6 Non-Clinical: 1 Citations: 3 8/10 Evaluate the effect of a group based multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme in chronic NP N = 170 121 females 49 males 53 years Age >18 years; documented history of non-specific NP >3 months; a good understanding of Italian Acute and subacute NP; cognitive impairment; clear aetiology for their NP, e.g., previous spinal surgery, deformity, disc herniation, infection, fracture, myelopathy or malignancy, whiplash, and systemic or neuromuscular diseases; having received cognitive-behavioral therapy Pillastrini et al., 2016 [58] Clinical: 1 Non-Clinical: 7 Citations: 6 8/10 Evaluate the effectiveness of global postural reeducation vs. manual therapy in chronic NP N = 96 72 females 22 males 48 years Nonspecific NP > 3 months; aged 18 to 80 years; ability to read and speak Italian Acute or subacute NP; specific cause of NP, e.g., systemic, rheumatic, neuromuscular diseases; central or peripheral neurological signs; cognitive impairment, spinal surgery; or PT treatments in the prior 6 months Diagnostics 2019, 9, 186 13 of 23 Table 2. Cont. Study Authors’ Institutions Number of Citations PEDro Score Aim Participants Inclusion Criteria Exclusion Criteria Ris et al., 2016 [59] Clinical: 1 Non-Clinical: 5 Citations: 7 6/10 Assess the effect of pain education, exercises and graded physical activity vs. pain education alone in chronic NP N = 200 149 females 51 males 45 years Aged >18 years; traumatic or non-traumatic NP > half a year; NDI >10; NP, primary pain; complete medical diagnostic procedures Clinically confirmed radiculopathies; progressive medical treatment; unstable social/working conditions; current fractures; score > 29 in the Beck Depression Inventory-II; conditions limiting participation; pregnancy Thompson et al., 2016 [33] Clinical: 2 Non-Clinical: 1 Citations: 4 5/10 Evaluate the effect of physiotherapist led cognitive—behavioral intervention plus exercise in chronic NP N = 57 27 females 28 males 48 years Non-specific NP > 3 months; fluency in English; have not received PT for NP in the past 3 months Serious pathology (fracture, dislocation, carcinoma or infection); radiculopathy; myelopathy; rheumatological disorder; diagnosed major psychiatric illness Tunwattanapong et al., 2016 [60] Clinical: 1 Non-clinical: 2 Citations: 10 8/10 Determine the effect of neck and shoulder stretching exercises for chronic NP among office workers N = 96 87 females 9 males 35 years Office workers who rated themselves with moderate to severe neck or shoulder pain (VAS ≥ 5 of 10 cm) for more than 3 months Performing regular stretching exercise; a history of severe neck injury, or neck or shoulder contracture (defined by a limitation range of motion in all directions); previous neck or shoulder surgery; abnormal neurological signs Diagnostics 2019, 9, 186 14 of 23 3.4. Eligibility Criteria (Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria) Used by Trials Of all trials analyzed, a single study [38] defined stringent inclusion criteria to avoid the recruitment of participants with possible VRP. This study included patients with a positive response to cervical facet joint nerve blockers; e.g., 80% pain relief and the ability to perform previously painful movements. With regard to the exclusion criteria, five clinical trials listed them to avoid the selection of individuals with suspected VRP as the cause of their NP. Two studies explicitly excluded participants with “NP referred from peripheral joints or viscera” [47,50]. The other three studies excluded individuals who suffered from NP with a “non-mechanical cause” [45], reported “any medical sign suggestive of a non-musculoskeletal aetiology” for their NP [43], or were diagnosed with a “specific cause for the neck pain”; e.g., organic disorders or systemic diseases [48]. A “clear aetiology” [57] or a “specific cause” [57,58] for the NP was also listed as an exclusion criterion in three other trials. Yet, none of the latter studies mentioned visceral or organic disorders as possible specific causes for the NP. Some other visceral sources of NP were enumerated in other clinical trials: (a) hepatitis [37]; (b) systemic disorders, including metabolic disease