Enhancing Treatment Outcomes: The Impact of Physical Touch in Back and Neck Pain Management

"The participants will be examined, with various areas in the neck and upper back being palpated. Subsequently, the exercises to be performed at home will be demonstrated by the experimenter. The experimenter will ensure correct execution by touching specific areas in the neck and upper back of the participants. Finally, the participants will be provided with a cream to be applied to the affected regions.~Placebo cream:~The participants receive an inert placebo cream, which is a standard basic cream infused with lemon oil, produced by a local pharmacy. Participants are informed that they are about to receive an effective analgesic cream.~Placebo exercises:~Participants are assigned a series of five core exercises, with an optional supplementary exercise available in case any of the core exercises proves ineffective for the participants. Participants are led to believe that these exercises are expected to have therapeutic effects."

"The participants will be examined, and they will be asked to describe as accurately as possible the regions where they experience pain. Subsequently, the experimenter will demonstrate the exercises to be performed at home. Finally, the participants will be provided with a cream to be applied to the affected regions.~Placebo cream:~The participants receive an inert placebo cream, which is a standard basic cream infused with lemon oil, produced by a local pharmacy. Participants are informed that they are about to receive an effective analgesic cream.~Placebo exercises:~Participants are assigned a series of five core exercises, with an optional supplementary exercise available in case any of the core exercises proves ineffective for the participants. Participants are led to believe that these exercises are expected to have therapeutic effects."