Effectiveness Of Cervical Rehabilitation Program After Thyroidectomy

The aim of this research is to determine the Effects of cervical rehabilitation program on neck pain, ROM and disability after thyroidectomy. Randomized controlled trials will be done at Pakistan ordinance factory (POF) Hospital. The sample size will be 52. The subjects were divided in two groups, with 26 subjects in Group A and 26 in Group B. Study duration was of 6 months. Sampling technique applied was Non probability Convenience Sampling technique. Both males and females of aged 30-50 years with thyroidectomy were included. Tools used in the study are Numeric Pain Rating Score (NPRS), goniometer and neck disability index (NDI).

Thyroidectomy, or surgical removal of the gland, is highly recommended treatment for thyroid disorders. The most prevalent of these conditions are symptomatic benign large goiter and tumorous condition of the thyroid gland. Both younger females and postmenopausal older women are prevalent towards these disorders (nodular goiter, cancer, and hypothyroidism).

Due to hyperextended position of neck during surgery patient usually complaint about the posterior neck pain, movement difficulties of shoulder and neck, occipital headaches, shoulder stiffness, motion's cervical range of limitations and some of them experiences the discomfort symptoms such as stretching, pressing, or choking feelings in the neck, headache, shoulder stiffness, and difficulty in moving the neck or shoulders. These symptoms may persist for an extended period following surgery and may even have a negative effect on the patient's quality of life. It has been reported that hyperextension can cause bilateral hypoglossal palsy, tetraplegia and cervical artery dissection Recently, a variety of treatment modalities have been used to overcome these disturbing symptoms, such as intraoperative transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), preoperative bilateral greater occipital nerve (GON) block, bilateral superficial cervical plexus block combined with bilateral GON block, and postoperative neck stretching exercise. Due to surgical position of thyroidectomy patient often develops posture syndrome of thyroid surgery (PSTS), symptoms include postoperative nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache and some discomfort associated with neck an occipital radiating pain.

Nepa Patel et al reported that both positional release technique and MET are effective for treatment of upper trapezius tightness or trigger points as the trapezius muscle works to move the neck in several directions, its degree of tightness or looseness affects neck flexibility. Om C. Wadhokar et al conducted a study on patients having neck pain with TMJ dysfunction, causes tightness of occipital muscles, difficulty in mouth opening and forward head posture. In this study suboccipital release technique was found to be more effective than conventional treatment.

In an RCT, stretching of pectoralis along with cervical mobilizations and rotation exercises were used for treatment of mechanical neck pain. And it has evaluated that it improves the active range of motion in all directions, perceived pain and disability levels. In 2019, Samah et al conducted a study to compare the effects the active neck stretching exercises and kinesio taping on patients after thyroidectomy; a significant improvement was observed in active stretching group. Another study investigated the effects of neck stretching exercises on post thyroidectomy patients with complaint of neck discomfort, and it concluded that neck stretching exercises are improving the patient disability level.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* • Post-thyroidectomy patients

  * Indoor patients

Exclusion Criteria:

* • Any cervical fracture/dislocations

  * Cervical instability
  * Vertebrobasilar insufficiency
  * Cervical Radiculopathy
  * Disc prolapsed at cervical region
  * Any neurological impairment