Physiotherapy for Non-specific Neck Pain in Working Age Persons
Condition: Neck Pain; Non-specific Neck Pain
MeSH terms: Neck Pain
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the effects of two different physiotherapy
      methods on non-specific neck pain in working age individuals. The main questions it aims to
      answer are:

        -  What is the effect of self stretching exercise on non-specific neck pain, functional
           disability, range of motion of the cervical spine and hand muscle strength in working
           age individuals?

        -  What is the effect of post-isometric relaxation exercise on non-specific neck pain,
           functional disability, range of motion of the cervical spine and hand muscle strength in
           working age individuals?

        -  Is any of the applied interventions (self-stretching or post-isometric relaxation
           exercise) superior to each other?

      Participants will:

        -  be evaluated by an experienced physiotherapist who will perform the interview and
           physical examination. Interview includes questions about the age, sex, work profile,
           pain intensity and duration, and other complaints. Physiotherapy examination includes a
           range of motion measurement, hand grip muscle strength and functional disability index
           evaluation.

        -  Two different interventions will be prescribed to the randomly assigned study
           participants: post-isometric relaxation and self-stretching. Duration of interventions
           for both groups is 4 weeks (3 times per week, 12 sessions). Duration of one session - 45
           min.
    

Detailed description: 
      The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the effects of two different physiotherapy
      methods on non-specific neck pain in working age individuals. The main questions it aims to
      answer are:

      What is the effect of self stretching exercise on non-specific neck pain, functional
      disability, range of motion of the cervical spine and hand muscle strength in working age
      individuals? What is the effect of post-isometric relaxation exercise on non-specific neck
      pain, functional disability, range of motion of the cervical spine and hand muscle strength
      in working age individuals? Is any of the applied interventions (self-stretching or
      post-isometric relaxation exercise) superior to each other?

      Participants will:

      be evaluated by an experienced physiotherapist who will perform the interview and physical
      examination. Interview includes questions about the age, sex, work profile, pain intensity
      and duration, and other complaints. Physiotherapy examination includes a range of motion
      measurement, hand grip muscle strength and functional disability index evaluation.

      Two different interventions will be prescribed to the randomly assigned study participants:
      post-isometric relaxation and self-stretching. Duration of interventions for both groups is 4
      weeks (3 times per week, 12 sessions). Duration of one session - 45 min.
    

Intervention name(s): Self-stretching exercise group; Post-isometric relaxation exercise group
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): Static neck muscle self-stretching exercises were performed for 30 min. after the TENS procedure. Every muscle in the neck region (head rotator cuff, neck stair muscles, upper part of the trapezius muscle, scapula levator muscle, semiscapular neck muscle, upper oblique head muscle, girdle head and neck muscles, and deep anterior neck flexor muscles) were stretched 3 times for 30 seconds per muscle group. While performing exercises, the subjects applied resistance with their hands. All exercises were performed without causing pain.; The investigators used one of the autogenic inhibition techniques - post-isometric relaxation (PIR), known as the muscle "contraction-relaxation" technique, during which, the subject is lying on his back, he is asked to press his head in the specified direction (50% of the subject's maximum pressure force). to the resistance provided by the therapist. During the press, resistance was provided for 10 seconds and followed by a passive stretch of the muscle in the opposite direction of movement. A total of 5 repetitions are performed for each muscle with a 5-second break. All movements are performed without causing pain of more than moderate intensity.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: This study is a four week, single blinded randomized controlled trial with pre-post design comparing self-stretching exercise group with post-isometric relaxation exercise group.
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment