Strength training and stretching for chronic neck pain
Strength training and stretching versus stretching only in the treatment of patients with chronic neck pain
From: Clinical Rehabilitation. 2008 Jul;22(7):592-600
To compare the effectiveness of a 12-month home-based combined strength training and stretching programme against stretching alone in the treatment of chronic neck pain. A randomized follow-up study with one hundred and one patients with chronic non specific neck pain were randomized in two groups. The strength training and stretching group was supported by 10 group training sessions and the stretching group was instructed to perform stretching exercises only as instructed in one group session. Neck pain, disability, neck muscle strength and mobility of cervical spine were measured before and after the intervention.
No significant differences in improvement in neck pain and disability were found between the two training groups. Mean pain decreased from 64 (17) mm by 37 mm in the strength training and stretching group, and from 60 (17) mm by 32 (39 to 25) mm in the stretching group. The improvements in disability were significant in both neck pain groups, while the changes in neck strength and mobility were minor. Training adherence decreased over time from the targeted three sessions a week, ending up at 1.1 (0.7) times a week for strength training and stretching group and 1.4 (0.8) times a week for stretching group.
No statistically significant differences in neck pain and disability were observed between the two home-based neck training regimens. Combined strength training and stretching or stretching only for neck pain were probably as effective in achieving a long-term improvement although the training adherence was rather low most of the time.
