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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Alfa-lipoic acid and superoxide dismutase in the management of chronic neck pain: a prospective randomized study

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Background and Objective Since oxidative stress plays a pathogenetic role in chronic neck pain (CNP), we investigated whether a combination of α-lipoic acid (ALA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) might improve pain control and the efficacy of physiotherapy (“multimodal therapy”) in patients with CNP. Setting This study was conducted in the Rehabilitation Unit of the Department of Surgical and Oncological Sciences at the University Policlinic in Palermo, Italy. Design and Patients This was a prospective, randomized, open study in outpatients. Intervention Patients randomly received either physiotherapy alone (group 2; n = 45) or a combination of ALA 600 mg and SOD 140 IU daily in addition to physiotherapy (group 1; n = 51), for 60 days. Pain was assessed by a visual analogue scale (VAS) and a modified Neck Pain Questionnaire (mNPQ). Treatment compliance and safety were also evaluated. Results Both groups experienced a significant reduction in the VAS and mNPQ scores after 1 month; however, while no further improvement was observed in group 2 at 60 days, group 1 showed a further VAS reduction (p < 0.001). In addition, in the mNPQ at 60 days, more patients in group 1 than in group 2 reported that their neck pain was improved (p < 0.01), and they showed greater compliance with prescribed physiotherapy (p = 0.048). No drug reaction was observed. Conclusion Use of ALA/SOD in combination with physiotherapy may be a useful approach to CNP, being antioxidants that act on nerve inflammation and disease progression. Clinical Rehabilitation Impact These preliminary observations suggest that some interesting goals (better pain control and physical wellbeing) can be achieved by multimodal therapy in CNP patients.