Effect of Functional Training and Isometric Exercises on Pain, ROM, and Functional Status in Patients With Neck Pain
Condition: Chronic Pain
MeSH terms: Chronic Pain
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Work-related musculoskeletal disorders have been rising fast around the globe leading to neck
      pain and scapular muscle dysfunction, contributing to a decrease in neck movements and
      functional limitations. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of scapular functional
      exercise (SFE) in combination with cervical isometric exercises (CIE) on neck pain, cervical
      range of motion, and functional limitations among participants with chronic mechanical neck
      pain.The study was based on a two-arm parallel group pretest-posttest randomized control
      trial design. Thirty participants (females 21 and males 9; average age 28.94±3.77 years) were
      randomly allocated to groups A and B (n=15/group). The group's A and B participants received
      a common intervention, such as CIE and hot packs. However, group A received the SFE in
      addition to common interventions. The outcomes, such as neck pain, cervical ROM, and
      functional limitations, were evaluated using a numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), standard
      universal goniometer, and neck disability index questionnaire at baseline and 4-week
      post-intervention. The paired and unpaired t-test was used to analyze the intervention
      effects on the outcomes within-group and between-group, keeping the significance level alpha
      set at p<0.05.
    

Detailed description: 
      The study hypothesised that adding the scapular functional training to the cervical isometric
      exercises will be equally effective than cervical isometric exercises alone on managing neck
      pain, cervical ROM, and functional limitations among participants with chronic mechanical
      neck pain. The present study is helpful for chronic mechanical neck pain patients and
      physiotherapist to better understand the effect of incorporation of the scapular functional
      training in the treatment of neck pain. Therefore, this protocol may be used as a treatment
      in chronic mechanical neck pain because it alleviates pain, neck disability, improving
      cervical range of motion in chronic mechanical neck pain.
    

Intervention name(s): Scapular functional training; Cervical isometric exercises; Moist heating
Intervention type(s): Other; Other; Other
Intervention description(s): The scapular functional training consists of press up and push up plus. Press up was done in sitting position on the training bench, feet on the floor with straight arm and the palms on the edge of the bench fingers pointing forward and then lift off and dip down just in front of the seat by moving the shoulder girdle. Progression is done by placing weight on the thigh. Push-up plus exercise started from a push up position on the hand, feet or knees and keeping the torso rigid by bracing the abdominals followed by protracting the scapula as high as possible. Progression is done moving from knees to the feet or adding resistance on the upper back. The training continued for three sessions per week for four weeks.; The isometric neck exercises taught to all the participants to perform in neutral sitting positions at home thrice a day for 15-days continuously. The sequences of exercises were shoulder circling in clockwise and anticlockwise direction, scapular retraction with cervical retraction, neck flexion, extension, either side of lateral bending/flexion, left and right rotation. Each exercise follows a set of 10 repetition of maximum voluntary contraction with a progressive hold time of 3, 5, 7, and 10 seconds depending on the severity of pain and tolerance of the participants.; A hydrocollator moist heat packs was applied over back of the neck in supine position to receive optimal heating. It was given for 20 minutes/day, five-day a week for four-week.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: Randomized controlled Trial
Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Chronic pain; Range of motion; Functional limitations; Isometric exercises; Functional training