Effects of Manual Therapy Combined With Therapeutic Exercise on Brain Biomarkers in Neck Pain

Inclusion Criteria: * a history of nonspecific neck pain for ≥ 3 months * an average pain intensity over the past week ≥ 35 mm. on a visual analogue scale (VAS) Exclusion Criteria: * a history of head and neck injury or surgery * known or suspected vestibular pathology or dizziness caused by underlying pathology in the ear, brain and sensory nerve pathways (e.g. benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) and/or vascular disorders * any neurological or musculoskeletal condition that could affect the outcomes (e.g., scoliosis, torticollis, myofascial pain syndrome, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis) * metabolic conditions (e.g., diabetes, obesity (BMI \> 30 kg/m2) and hypertension) * psychological symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression and schizophrenia) * contraindications to MRI (e.g., pregnancy/breastfeeding, claustrophobia and ferromagnetic implants) * receiving physiotherapy treatment for their neck conditions in the past 12 months.