# Alexander Technique vs. Targeted Exercise for Neck Pain--A Preliminary Comparison
## 3 Results
### Correlations  
Table 4 shows correlations of NPQ score and change in NPQ score with other outcome measures. Figure 8 shows scatter plots of the relationships with the highest correlations. At second post-test, NPQ score correlated significantly with PSEQ score (r = \(-\)0.76) and neck muscle amplitude (r = 0.65). There were two non-significant correlations of note: change in NPQ with change in PSEQ (r = \(-\)0.39) and NPQ with head angle at P1 (r = \(-\)0.39). There was no correlation between posture and muscle activation. Figure 7: Median frequency of bilateral stemocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle activity during cranio-cervical flexion test (CFFT).). (**A**) Alexander group SCM activity across two groups, three testing sessions, and five CCFT levels. (**B**) Exercise group SCM activity across groups, sessions, and CCFT levels. (**C**) SCM activity across groups and sessions at CCFT Level 1. (**D**) SCM activity across groups and sessions at CCFT Level 5. Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean. Higher SCM activation indicates more muscle activity. * signifies \(p\) = 0.01. ** signifies \(p\) = 0.007. *** signifies \(p\) < 0.0001. BI = baseline; P1 = 1 st post-test; P2 = 2 nd post-test. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Predictor**} & **Correlation with NPQ at Baseline** & **Correlation with NPQ at Post-Test** & **Correlation of Change in NPQ with Change in Predictor** \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{\begin{tabular}{c} Pain self-efficacy \\ \end{tabular} } & \multirow{2}{*}{0.04 (0.40)} & P1: \(-\)0.38 (0.07) & P1-B1: 0.08 (0.40) \\  & & **P2: \(-\)0.76 (0.0003)** & **P2: \(-\)0.39 (0.14)** \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{\begin{tabular}{c} Head-torso angle \\ \end{tabular} } & \multirow{2}{*}{0.06 (0.08)} & P1:0.23 (0.39) & P1-B1: \(-\)0.17 (0.58) \\  & & P2: 0.15 (0.58) & P2-B1: \(-\)0.05 (0.85) \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{\begin{tabular}{c} Head angle \\ \end{tabular} } & \multirow{2}{*}{\(-\)0.36 (0.17)} & **P1: \(-\)0.39 (0.14)** & P1-B1: 0.03 (0.90) \\  & & P2: 0.07 (0.80) & P2-B1: 0.03 (0.90) \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{\begin{tabular}{c} Neck angle \\ \end{tabular} } & \multirow{2}{*}{0.13 (0.63)} & P1: 0.25 (0.35) & P1-B1: \(-\)0.04 (0.90) \\  & & P2: \(-\)0.12 (0.65) & P2-B1: \(-\)0.08 (0.77) \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{\
\begin{tabular}{c} Muscle amplitude \\ \end{tabular} } & \multirow{2}{*}{\(-\)0.04 (0.88)} & P1: 0.23 (0.41) & P1-B1: \(-\)0.08 (0.77) \\  & & **P2: 0.65 (0.009)** & P2-B1: 0.19 (0.48) \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{
\begin{tabular}{c} Muscle frequency \\ \end{tabular} } & \multirow{2}{*}{\(-\)0.10 (0.72)} & P1: 0.19 (0.50) & P1-B1: 0.28 (0.31) \\  & & P2: 0.21 (0.45) & P2-B1: 0.12 (0.67) \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 4: Correlations between neck pain and possible predictor variables. Figure 8: Correlations between predictor variables and neck pain (NPQ score). Squares indicate Alexander group; circles indicate exercise group. (**A**) Correlation between pain self-efficacy (PSEQ) and neck pain at 2 nd post-test, indicating that higher self-efficacy is associated with lower pain. (**B**) Correlation between change in pain self-efficacy (PSEQ) and change in neck pain between Baseline and 2 nd post-test, indicating that a decrease in neck pain is associated with an increase in self-efficacy. (**C**) Correlation between sternocleidomastoid (SCM) activation and neck pain at 2 nd post-test. (**D**) Correlation between head angle and neck pain (NPQ) at 1 st post-test. Results are presented as r(p). NPQ = Northwick Park Questionnaire (neck pain). PSEQ = pain self-efficacy questionnaire. Head-torso angle = [tragus, C7, manubrium] angle during computer game. Neck angle = [tragus, C7, horizontal] angle during computer game. Head angle = [orbit, tragus, horizontal] angle during computer game. Muscle activity: amplitude = amplitude of electromyography signal from bilateral sternocleidomastoid, normalized to reference contraction. Muscle activity: frequency = median frequency of electromyography signal from bilateral sternocleidomastoid at CCFT Level 1.