Recommendations For Mobilization and Manipulation Treatment and Screening for Vascular Complications in Clinical Practice Guidelines for Neck Pain: A Systematic Review

Objective: This systematic review aimed to determine the methodological quality of international clinical practice guidelines and the clinical credibility and implementability of recommendations regarding manipulation or mobilization treatment recommendations proposed in clinical practice guidelines for the management of people with neck pain. A secondary aim of this review was to provide an overview of recommendations for manipulation or mobilization in patients with neck pain. Manipulation or mobilization treatment of patients with neck pain is under debate for its potential risk of serious adverse events. Serious adverse events are rare, but it is the clinicians' responsibility to thoroughly screen patients at risk of vascular complications. A third aim of this review was to describe the extent to which the included guidelines inform clinical practice about screening for the risk of complications due to vascular pathology in the cervical spine.

Methods: A systematic review of 13 electronic databases and 4 repositories was performed for potentially relevant guidelines published between January 1, 2000 and September 22, 2022. Two reviewers independently appraised eligible guidelines using Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) and Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation: Recommendation EXcellence (AGREE-REX) criteria. A best evidence synthesis was performed and screening of risk factors was assessed.

Results: A total of 19 clinical practice guidelines were included, of which 5 were of high quality. All high-quality guidelines recommend the use of manipulation or mobilization, with or without exercise. Eight (42%) guidelines described the screening of risk factors for adverse events. Two (11%) guidelines met the a priori defined criteria for screening and scored present and complete.

Conclusion: International clinical practice guidelines consistently recommend the use of manipulations and mobilizations in the treatment of neck pain. There is a notable absence of recommendations regarding the identification of patients at risk for vascular complications.

Impact: The findings of this study allow guideline developers to improve the quality of future neck pain guidelines, and to consider including vascular screening tools. Furthermore, it proposes recommendations to physical therapists interested in applying manipulations and mobilizations in the treatment of patients with neck pain.