Investigation of the Effectiveness of Manual Therapy Plus Cervical Stabilization Exercise in Chronic Neck Pain

Investigation of the Effectiveness of Manual Therapy Plus Cervical Stabilization Exercise on Balance, Proprioception, and Neck Muscle Morphology in Chronic Neck Pain

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of manual therapy plus cervical stabilization exercise compared to manual therapy alone on balance, proprioception, and neck muscle morphology in chronic neck pain.

Neck pain is defined as pain and/or stiffness localized to the dorsal area of the area between the condyle of the occiput and the third thoracic vertebra. Chronic neck pain (CNP), defined as persistent pain lasting three or more mounts, causes disability and a reduction in life quality. Balance disorders or postural instability, a deficit in proprioception, changes in muscle recruitment, a decrease in dimension of deep cervical muscle, and an increase in stiffness of superficial neck muscle may lead to pain in patients with CNP. Both manual therapy and exercise have favorable effects on management with CNP. According to our knowledge, no study has investigated the effects of manual therapy plus cervical stabilization exercise on balance, proprioception, and neck muscle morphology in CNP, yet.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 20 to 55 years of age,
• Having generalized neck pain for more than 3 months,
• Being volunteer

Exclusion Criteria:

• Being pregnant,
• Malignancy,
• Having cervical stenosis,
• Severe cervical spondylosis,
• Cervical fractures and tumor,
• Osteoporosis,
• Positive vertebrobasilar test
• Positive Babinski reflex
• Neurologic deficit related to compression of the spinal root or cord,
• Having neurologic, dermatologic, infectious, inflammatory rheumatologic and endocrine diseases,
• Being an inability to fulfill the questionnaires,
• Any problems that will hinder exercise (advanced cardiopulmonary or orthopedic problems), having intervention including exercise program or physiotherapy in the three months