The purpose of this study is to determine whether intensive one-year neck strength training can enhance health related quality of life in females with chronic neck pain.

Inclusion Criteria:

• female
• aged 25 to 53 years
• office worker
• permanently employed
• motivated to continue working
• motivated for rehabilitation
• constant or frequently occurring neck pain for more than 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• severe disorders of the cervical spine
• disk prolapse
• spinal stenosis
• postoperative conditions in the neck and shoulder areas
• history of severe trauma
• instability
• spasmodic torticollis
• frequent migraine
• peripheral nerve entrapment
• fibromyalgia
• shoulder diseases (tendonitis, bursitis, capsulitis)
• inflammatory rheumatic diseases
• severe psychiatric illness and other diseases that prevent physical loading
• pregnancy