effects of basic body awareness therapy on patients with chronic neck pain

Conditions: Neck Pain; Proprioceptive Disorders; Balance; Distorted

Summary: the aim of this study was to compare the effects of basic body awareness therapy (bbat) and conventional therapies (ct) on pain, balance and proprioceptive sensation of cervical region in patients with chronic neck pain. as a cross-over study, patients were divided into bbat / ct (n=17) and ct / bbat (n=18) groups. bbat program has been implemented to patients within group bbat / ct two days a week for 6 weeks while group ct / bbat received the ct program during the same period. after the interval of 5-week, group bbat / ct was treated with ct and group ct / bbat was treated with bbat. pain severity with; visual analogue scale (vas), disability level with; neck disability index (ndi), cervical proprioception with; cervical range of motion deluxe (crom) device, balance with; computerized dynamic posturography were evaluated. the evaluations were conducted before and after the first and second treatment.

chronic neck pain is a common musculoskeletal disease that affects many people at some point in life.its prevalence in the general population varies between 30-50% and is more common in women over 50 years old.the cervical area is an important body part due to the sensorial receptors of the muscles and joints as well as central and reflexes connections with visual, vestibular, and postural control systems.numerous sensorimotor disorders have been detected in patients with chronic neck pain.some patients with neck pain have impaired proprioceptive sensation and postural control.pain can affect presynaptic inhibition of muscle afferents and modulation of proprioceptive muscle spindles, causing prolonged delays.these changes may result in decreased muscle control and increased postural release.different updated and conventional therapy (ct) methods are used for the treatment of neck pain. mobilization of soft tissue and joint, stabilization techniques, cervical collars, relaxation training, strengthening exercises, and posture arrangement by body awareness are common therapeutic modalities. basic body awareness therapy (bbat) is a method used by physiotherapists to increase patient awareness and control posture.the method is increasingly used in the treatment of painful conditions related to the chronic musculoskeletal system.however, there are not enough studies in the literature examining the effects of proprioceptive senses and postural control in patients with chronic neck pain. the aim of this study is to compare the effects of bbat and conventional treatments (ct) on pain, balance and proprioceptive sensation of the cervical region in patients with chronic neck pain.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * being 18 or over, * having neck pain for more than 3 months, * having neck problems that do not cause neurological deficits exclusion criteria: * history of cervical vertebra fracture or spinal tumor, * those diagnosed with cervical dystonia, * whiplash-related disorders, * those diagnosed with vertigo, fibromyalgia, or rheumatoid arthritis, * the presence of inflammatory disease or infection.

Keywords: neck pain proprioception balance body awareness exercise