Effectiveness of cervicothoracic stabilization Exercise along with conventional physiotherapy Among patients with chronic neck pain.

Abstract

Background: Chronic neck pain is a pain that affects the skin, ligaments and muscles on the movement of both active and passive movement with widespread sensation as well as hyperalgesia that last more than three months. Nowadays its been a common and major problem in our country which has a tendency to recurrent injury where cervicothoracic stabilization exercise seems to be effective to prevent recurrency. Objectives: the objective of the study is to determine and compare patient rated general neck pain, neck ROM, neck muscle strength and disability before and after application of CTSE along with conventional physiotherapy among patients with CNP. Methodology: Experimental study design was used in this study. 22 patients with Chronic Neck Pain were randomly allocated into two groups from outdoor musculo-skeletal unit, CRP. Among them 11 patients were assigned into trial group received CTSE with conventional physiotherapy and another 11 into control group received only conventional physiotherpy. Total treatment sessions were 9 comprising of 3 sessions per week for 3 weeks. Double blinding procedure was used during data collection. Outcome measurement tools: Numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) was used to measure pain and universal goniometer to measure ROM, manual muscle testing to measure muscle strength and NDI to measure neck disability. Analysis of data: Inferential statistics such as Mann-Whitney U test for between groups pain, muscle strength and NDI, Unpaired t test for between groups ROM, Paired t test for within group ROM and Wilcoxon test was done for within group pain, muscle strength and NDI using SPSS version 20. Results: It was found that pain and neck disability had reduced and ROM and muscle strength improved both between and within group (P<.05). Conclusion: Cervicothoracic stabilization Exercise (CTSE) along with conventional physiotherapy has the ability to improve the effects than only conventional physiotherapy in chronic neck pain. This exercise proved beneficial when combined with conventional physiotherapy to minimize disability level and prevent recurrence, reduction of pain and improvement of range of motion and muscle strength. Keywords: Chronic neck pain, Cervicothoraicic stabilization exercise (CTSE) and Conventional physiotherapy.