EFFECTS OF DEEP NECK FLEXOR AND EXTENSOR EXERCISES ON PAIN, RANGE OF MOTION AND MUSCLE STRENGTH IN MECHANICAL NECK PAIN
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Keywords
Exercise, Muscle Strength, Neck muscles, Neck pain, Range of Motion
Abstract
Objective: To determine the effects of deep flexor muscle exercises along with deep extensor muscle exercises on pain, range of motion and muscle strength in mechanical neck pain.
Methods: Randomized clinical trial was conducted at Riphah Rehabilitation Clinic Lahore from July 2022 to February 2022. Sample size of 36 patients with the age ranging from 18 to 40 years having mechanical neck pain, recruited through non-probability consecutive sampling. All were randomly allocated through simple random sealed opaque enveloped method into two groups; Group A was treated with standardized physiotherapy treatment and Group B was treated with deep neck flexor and extensor exercises along with standardized treatment. Both groups underwent treatment for 3 times per week for a total of 4 weeks. Outcome measures used were NPRS, Goniometer and MMT to measure the treatment effect at baseline, and after 4 weeks of the treatment. Analysis was done using SPSS version 25.
Results: Participants N=36 were randomly allocated to two groups. Group A mean age was 34.44 ± 6.45 while group B mean age was 33.66± 6.97. With-in group comparison by Wilcoxon signed-rank Test revealed significant differences (p <0.05) on pain, range of motion and muscle strength. The between-group comparison by Mann Whitney-Test showed reduction in pain intensity with improvement in range of motion. Significant difference was observed between two groups (p<0.05).
Conclusion: This study concluded that both intervention and control groups showed decrease in pain intensity and improvement in range of motion and strength but there was significant improvement in the intervention group receiving deep neck flexor and extensor exercises
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Anam Abbas
Lecturer, Department of Clinical Services, University of Management & Technology, Lahore
Syed Zahra Gillan
Physiotherapist, Department of Physical Therapy, Riphah International University, Lahore
Samrood Akram
Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Riphah International University, Lahore
Hina Gul
Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Riphah International University, Lahore
Tayyaba Niaz
Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Nur International University, Lahore
Rahat Afzal
Clinical Physiotherapist, Department of Physical Therapy, Govt Teaching Hospital Shahdara, Lahore,