Adding chiropractic treatment to ergonomic training reduces pain and biopsychosocial impact in industrial workers with nonspecific chronic neck pain, but does not improve sleep quality.
In a randomized controlled trial of 45 male industrial workers with chronic nonspecific neck pain, adding chiropractic treatment to ergonomic training significantly reduced pain (VAS) and biopsychosocial impact (BNQ) compared to sham manipulation or training alone. Disability (NDI) improved across all groups, but sleep quality (PSQI) remained unchanged.
This article is automatically generated from the structured evidence profile behind the claim above. Scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical advice.
Adding chiropractic treatment to ergonomic training reduces pain and biopsychosocial impact in industrial workers with nonspecific chronic neck pain, but does not improve sleep quality. The current body of evidence comprises 1 study, including 1 randomized controlled trial. EvidenceHub rates the overall confidence at 44/100 (low).
The Claim
Adding chiropractic treatment to ergonomic training reduces pain and biopsychosocial impact in industrial workers with nonspecific chronic neck pain, but does not improve sleep quality.
This conclusion is most relevant to: Male industrial workers with nonspecific chronic neck pain.
What the Research Shows
The conclusion draws on 1 linked study. Highlights from the cited literature:
- ▸The Effectiveness of Ergonomic Training and Chiropractic Treatment in Industrial Workers with Nonspecific Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. (Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 2026) —
How It Works
The proposed biological pathway:
- ▸Chiropractic spinal manipulation may reduce mechanical neck pain and associated muscle tension.
- ▸Reduced pain may lead to decreased biopsychosocial impact, improving overall well-being.
- ▸However, the lack of change in PSQI suggests that sleep quality may not be directly influenced by pain reduction in this population.
- ▸Result: Pain and biopsychosocial impact improved, but sleep quality did not change.
Who Might Benefit
Evidence fit by population:
- ▸Male industrial workers with nonspecific chronic neck pain
Recommended Dose
N/A
Limitations & Caveats
Important context when interpreting this evidence:
- ▸Small sample size (15 per group) limits generalizability.
- ▸Short intervention duration (4 weeks) may be insufficient to observe changes in sleep quality.
- ▸Only male industrial workers were studied, limiting applicability to other populations.
- ▸Sleep quality was not a primary outcome, and the study may not have been powered to detect changes in PSQI.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did chiropractic treatment improve sleep quality in this study?▼
No, sleep quality as measured by the PSQI was unchanged after four weeks of chiropractic treatment added to ergonomic training.
What were the main benefits of adding chiropractic treatment to ergonomic training?▼
The addition of chiropractic treatment significantly reduced pain (VAS) and biopsychosocial impact (BNQ) compared to sham manipulation or ergonomic training alone.
How many participants were in this trial?▼
Forty-five male industrial workers were randomized, with 15 participants in each of the three groups.
Was the study a randomized controlled trial?▼
Yes, it was a randomized controlled trial with three arms: chiropractic treatment plus ergonomic training, sham manipulation plus ergonomic training, and ergonomic training alone.
References
- 1.Balikçi D, Dikmen Hoşbaş B, Şevgin Ö. “The Effectiveness of Ergonomic Training and Chiropractic Treatment in Industrial Workers with Nonspecific Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial..” Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 2026. PMID: 42649544 DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003872