## 7 Discussion
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c} \hline \hline  & & **Pre** & **Post** & **t (\(p\))** & **Time** & **LCI, UCI** & **Group \(\times\) Time** \\  & & & & & **F (\(p\))** & **F (\(p\))** \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{extension} & CSG & 56.35 \(\pm\) 7.32 & 65.18 \(\pm\) 6.79 & \(-\)7.235 (0.000 \({}^{\circ}\)) & \multirow{3}{*}{153.80 (\(<\)0.001 \({}^{\circ}\))} & \multirow{3}{*}{7.147, 9.976} & \multirow{3}{*}{0.15 (0.700)} \\  & CTG & 53.41 \(\pm\) 4.89 & 61.71 \(\pm\) 4.20 & \(-\)12.657 (0.000 \({}^{\circ}\)) & & \\  & \(\eta^{2}\) & & & & 0.836 & & 0.005 \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{ flexion} & CSG & 30.43 \(\pm\) 7.69 & 39.65 \(\pm\) 5.84 & \(-\)6.301 (0.000 \({}^{\circ}\)) & \multirow{3}{*}{89.45 (\(<\)0.001 \({}^{\circ}\))} & \multirow{3}{*}{6.344, 9.838} & \multirow{3}{*}{1.73 (0.199)} \\  & CTG & 33.23 \(\pm\) 6.07 & 40.20 \(\pm\) 7.45 & \(-\)7.846 (0.000 \({}^{\circ}\)) & & \\  & \(\eta^{2}\) & & & 0.749 & & 0.054 \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{right rotation} & CSG & 60.29 \(\pm\) 5.77 & 68.29 \(\pm\) 7.64 & \(-\)7.708 (0.000 \({}^{\circ}\)) & \multirow{3}{*}{127.96 (\(<\)0.001 \({}^{\circ}\))} & \multirow{3}{*}{5.830, 8.398} & \multirow{3}{*}{1.96 (0.172)} \\  & CTG & 55.82 \(\pm\) 8.35 & 62.05 \(\pm\) 8.60 & \(-\)8.760 (0.000 \({}^{\circ}\)) & & \\  & \(\eta^{2}\) & & & 0.810 & & 0.061 \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{left rotation} & CSG & 53.25 \(\pm\) 6.31 & 61.77 \(\pm\) 7.00 & \(-\)7.789 (0.000 \({}^{\circ}\)) & \multirow{3}{*}{121.54 (\(<\)0.001 \({}^{\circ}\))} & \multirow{3}{*}{6.147, 8.942} & \multirow{3}{*}{2.04 (0.164)} \\  & CTG & 55.93 \(\pm\) 7.09 & 62.49 \(\pm\) 7.06 & \(-\)7.985 (0.000 \({}^{\circ}\)) & & \\  & \(\eta^{2}\) & & & 0.802 & & 0.064 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 4: Change in cervical ROM in the two groups (unit: \({}^{\circ}\)) (\(n\) = 32). subsequent reduction in PPT [46]. Previous studies have found that spinal instability can also lead to neck pain and dysfunction. For instance, it has been shown that the DCF plays an important role in spinal stability and movement control, and DCF weakness can cause neck pain and significantly reduce the PPT [46]. The PPT is a substitute for expressing pain. It has also been shown that imbalances in the neck muscles can cause pain, the overactivity of superficial cervical muscles, increased stiffness, and muscle shortening, which can also cause cervical pain [54]. Aiming to alleviate these symptoms, [PERSON], [PERSON] et al. demonstrated that stretching can suppress pain perception in the skin, and pressure pain thresholds were found to increase during and after stretching [55]. Following stretching, the resilience of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues is enhanced, enabling them to better withstand pressure; this may contribute to an increased PPT [56; 57]. Similarly, DCF strengthening exercises can improve neck pain and increase the PPT of neck muscles [46]. The application of mechanical stimulation to the muscles, which promotes the realignment of muscle fibers and the relaxation of the muscular structure, has been shown to effectively alleviate pain sensations; furthermore, this form of stimulation has shown an ability to increase the PPT through mechanisms involving the presynaptic inhibition or modulation of pain signals at a conscious level [58]. Mechanical stimulation of the SCM muscle significantly increases its PPT, likely due to pain reduction and presynaptic inhibition, while relaxation of the SCM muscle indirectly contributes to a significant increase in the PPT of the UT muscle [58]. In this study, participants in both groups engaged in cervical stabilization exercises, which included stretching, exercises for strengthening the DCF muscles, and posture correction. Following these exercises, both groups experienced an increase in PPT and a reduction in neck pain. In cervical extension and forward head posture, there is a weakening of LT and SA muscles, which leads to downward rotation of the scapula, an increased load on the cervical spine, and increased neck pain [59; 60].