Effects of Home-Based Exercise Manual on Pain and Disability in Patients of Postural Neck Pain
Condition: Postural Neck Pain
MeSH terms: Neck Pain
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The main aim of this study is to determine the effects of routine physical therapy with and
      without home-based exercise manual on pain and disability in patients of postural neck pain.
      To exceptional time, the effects and outcomes of home-based exercise manual for the patients
      with postural neck pain have not yet been explored. Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic and
      social isolation, most of the individuals with office based occupations are performing their
      duties from their homes, which has some negative impact on their neck biomechanics and leads
      to the postural neck pain, this study will not only enlighten the beneficial effects of
      home-based exercise manual for the patients of postural neck pain, to reduce the risk of
      disability and improve their quality of life, but it will also be cost effective for them.
    

Detailed description: 
      After back pain, most commonly found musculoskeletal ailment is the neck pain. Due to the
      poor neck posture, postural neck pain appears. It is estimated that, about 60% of the neck
      pain patients' have the forward head posture. Many people visit hospitals or other medical
      centers at least once in their life due to this problem.

      Those individuals with chronic neck pain who work in offices, industries or perform other
      computer-based tasks, that require sitting for longer period of time have altered postural
      behaviors. Persistent neck pain has the negative impact as it has the potential to change the
      biomechanics of cervical spine specifically in individuals who spend most of their time in
      sitting position in front of computer screens. Continuous postural neck pain may lead to the
      forward head posture that rises load on the posterior structures of the cervical spine such
      as ligaments, muscles, bones and joint capsules and brings changes in scapular kinetics and
      kinematics.

      According to the previous researches, forward head posture causes tightening of the shoulder
      and anterior neck muscles, shortening of the posterior neck extensors, and affects the
      kinematics and position of the scapula. Proper posture of the body is believed to be the
      state in which there is a musculoskeletal balance and minimal amount of strain and stress on
      the body. However most of the people are not able to maintain that equilibrium in the
      musculoskeletal structures of the body.

      An ideal posture is considered only when the external auditory meatus is lined up with the
      vertical postural line. As seen in in the lateral view, the vertical line passes through
      external auditory meatus, the shoulder joint, slightly behind the hip joint, through the
      center of the knee joint and slightly in front of the ankle joint. Postural neck pain is
      believed to be associated with the forward head posture and is one of the common types of
      poor head posture seen in patients with neck disorders.

      Neck pain is the most commonly occurring clinical condition, and its associated social and
      economic costs related to disability and days off work are just about equal to the lumbar
      pain. Individuals with the postural neck pain have been reported with the change in muscular
      control such as increased activity of the superficial muscles of the cervical spine and upper
      trapezius. Although the exact association between posture and neck pain is unresolved.
      Cervical neck posture is believed to have impact on dorsal neck muscle activity during
      lifting or even at rest. Moreover, postural neck pain may lead to the forward head posture
      linked with the thoracic kyphosis which has indirect impact on the rotational range of motion
      and cervical flexion. Occupations with sustained computer use and prolong computer usage may
      lead to the functional kyphosis, that seems to affect posture of the neck and scapular
      positioning and activity of the upper trapezius. Modifications in the workplace environment
      and postural correction have been shown in reducing postural neck pain.

      The main aim of the study is to compare the effects of routine physical therapy with and
      without home-based exercise manual on pain and disability in patients of postural neck pain.
    

Intervention name(s): Home-based Exercise Manual; Conventional PT
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): in the experimental group we will provide moist heating pads along with TENS on the neck for 10 minutes and then neck isometrics and strengthening exercises shall be performed. Patients in the experimental group will also receive a home-based exercise manual.; In this group patients will receive routine physical therapy including hot pack for 10 minutes, stretching, strengthening exercise and TENS at the end of each session.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Postural Neck Pain