The Effect of a Rehabilitation Exercise Program on Head Repositioning Accuracy and Reported Levels of Pain in Chronic Neck Pain Subjects

Background:Mobile health applications are frequently used to increase exercise adherence in patients with musculoskeletal problems. However, the usability of these health mobile applications mostly has not been proven. In our previous study, the usability of the mobile app, which includes postural correction and neck spinal stabilization exercises, has been proven. (M.U-NeckExercise application)Objectives:The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the mobile application-based home exercise program for patients with chronic neck pain.Methods:60 people with chronic neck pain were participated in the our study. They were randomized into two groups. The first group (n:30) received home exercises via the novel mobile app, and the second group (n:30) received the same home exercises via the brochure. The exercise program consisted of neck and thoracic postural correction and neck spinal stabilization exercises. Participants has been requested to do the exercises 3 days in a week for 6 weeks. Participants’ pain levels were assessed by using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), their neck-related functional limitations were evaluated by Neck Pain and Disability Index (BADI). Exercise adherence was meausered with a ratio of total participated sessions compared with the target defined by patient activation monitor and exercise adherance questionnaire. Targeted participation were %60 of total sessions.Results:In both groups, the improvement in VAS and BADI scores was statistically significant (p<0.05). It was found that the pain parameters of VAS score decreased statistically more in the mobile application-based exercise group (p<0.05). While there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the BADI score, the effect size results was higher in the mobile app group (effect size= 0.411). Our exercise commitment target in the mobile app group was an average of 10.5 sessions. The target session number has been reached 11.25 sessions.Conclusion:It has been observed that the mobile application-based exercise program is effective in reducing pain and increasing exercise adherence in people with chronic neck pain. The findings support M.U-NeckExercise-App could be recommended to health professionals for exercise prescription in patients with cronic neck pain.References:[1]Tonga E, Can M, Polat MG (2019). ”SAT0730-HPR development and design of smartphone application for postural alignment of cervical and thoracic spine for young adults.” Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 78,2.[2]Voth, E. C., Oelke, N. D., & Jung, M. E. (2016). A theory-based exercise app to enhance exercise adherence: a pilot study. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 4(2), e62.VariableGroupX±SSzpPost-Exercise VAS Value (0-10 cm)Mobile app2,90±2,04-3,272**0,001Brochure4,63±1,69Post-Exercise BADI ValueMobile app38,86±12,380,0310,861Brochure32,23±12,35Disclosure of Interests:None declared

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Does the Addition of Manual Therapy Approach to a Cervical Exercise Program Improve Clinical Outcomes for Patients with Chronic Neck Pain in Short- and Mid-Term? A Randomized Controlled Trial

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17186601 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (18) ◽

pp. 6601 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jacobo Rodríguez-Sanz ◽

Miguel Malo-Urriés ◽

Jaime Corral-de-Toro ◽

Carlos López-de-Celis ◽

María Orosia Lucha-López ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cervical Spine ◽

Neck Pain ◽

Manual Therapy ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Chronic Neck Pain ◽

Exercise Group ◽

Home Exercise ◽

Upper Cervical Spine ◽

Upper Cervical ◽

Cervical Spine Dysfunction

Chronic neck pain is one of today’s most prevalent pathologies. The International Classification of Diseases categorizes four subgroups based on patients’ associated symptoms. However, this classification does not encompass upper cervical spine dysfunction. The aim is to compare the short- and mid-term effectiveness of adding a manual therapy approach to a cervical exercise protocol in patients with chronic neck pain and upper cervical spine dysfunction. Fifty-eight subjects with chronic neck pain and upper cervical spine dysfunction were recruited (29 = Manual therapy + Exercise; 29 = Exercise). Each group received four 20-min sessions, one per week during four consecutive weeks, and a home exercise regime. Upper flexion and flexion-rotation test range of motion, neck disability index, craniocervical flexion test, visual analogue scale, pressure pain threshold, global rating of change scale, and adherence to self-treatment were assessed at the beginning, end of the intervention and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. The Manual therapy + Exercise group statistically improved short- and medium-term in all variables compared to the Exercise group. Four 20-min sessions of Manual therapy + Exercise along with a home-exercise program is more effective in the short- to mid-term than an exercise protocol and a home-exercise program for patients with chronic neck pain and upper cervical dysfunction.

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Effect of Neck Exercise on Sitting Posture in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain

Physical Therapy ◽

10.2522/ptj.20060009 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 87 (4) ◽

pp. 408-417 ◽

Cited By ~ 193

Author(s):

Deborah Falla ◽

Gwendolen Jull ◽

Trevor Russell ◽

Bill Vicenzino ◽

Paul Hodges

Keyword(s):

Neck Pain ◽

Exercise Intervention ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Chronic Neck Pain ◽

Control Group ◽

Upright Posture ◽

Sitting Posture ◽

Control Subjects ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Flexor Muscles

Background and PurposePoor sitting posture has been implicated in the development and perpetuation of neck pain symptoms. This study had 2 purposes: (1) to compare change in cervical and thoracic posture during a distracting task between subjects with chronic neck pain and control subjects and (2) to compare the effects of 2 different neck exercise regimens on the ability of people with neck pain to maintain an upright cervical and thoracic posture during this task.SubjectsFifty-eight subjects with chronic, nonsevere neck pain and 10 control subjects participated in the study.MethodChange in cervical and thoracic posture from an upright posture was measured every 2 minutes during a 10-minute computer task. Following baseline measurements, the subjects with neck pain were randomized into one of two 6-week exercise intervention groups: a group that received training of the craniocervical flexor muscles or a group that received endurance-strength training of the cervical flexor muscles. The primary outcomes following intervention were changes in the angle of cervical and thoracic posture during the computer task.ResultsSubjects with neck pain demonstrated a change in cervical angle across the duration of the task (mean=4.4°; 95% confidence interval [CI]=3.3–5.4), consistent with a more forward head posture. No significant difference was observed for the change in cervical angle across the duration of the task for the control group subjects (mean=2.2°; 95% CI=1.0–3.4). Following intervention, the craniocervical flexor training group demonstrated a significant reduction in the change of cervical angle across the duration of the computer task.Discussion and ConclusionThis study showed that people with chronic neck pain demonstrate a reduced ability to maintain an upright posture when distracted. Following intervention with an exercise program targeted at training the craniocervical flexor muscles, subjects with neck pain demonstrated an improved ability to maintain a neutral cervical posture during prolonged sitting.

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