Progressive Cervical Isometric Exercises Versus Scapular Stabilization Exercises in Text Neck Syndrome

Effects of Progressive Cervical Isometric Exercises Versus Scapular Stabilization Exercises on Pain, Range of Motion and Disability in Young Adults With Text Neck Syndrome: A Randomised Controlled Trail

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of progressive cervical isometric exercises and scapular stabilization exercises on pain, ROM and disability in young adults with text neck syndrome.

Text neck or Turtle neck posture is the latest term coined by Dr. Dean L. Fishman that demonstrates the repeated stress, injury, and pain in the neck due to having the head in a forward position by excessive use of cell phones or hand-held mobile devices for a prolonged time. The use of mobile devices is becoming a concern especially in children, recent numbers are very alarming and according to surveys 87% of teenagers in America and 79% of teenagers in the UK are mobile phone owners and are greatly affected by them, these numbers have skyrocketed by recent COVID-19 pandemic as the social distancing and closure of the school, colleges and offices have pushed us to work from home and it increases the prevalence of text neck syndrome. This study is unique in that as it investigate the effect of two different treatment plans for turtle neck syndrome.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals using mobile phones for more than 6-8 hours.

  • Participants both male and female of age between 18 to 28 years
  • Participants with neck pain (>7 weeks)
  • Participants with NDI score above 15/50 (10% or higher) or
  • Participants with NPRS score above 3

Exclusion Criteria:

• Specific causes of neck pain (conditions with neurological involvement such as myelopathy with weakness, numbness and sensory loss, cervical disc prolapse, and cervical spinal stenosis)

  • Previous neck and upper limb surgery.
  • History of cervical trauma (whiplash disorder), fractures, dislocations.
  • History of congenital torticollis, frequent migraine, carcinoma, acute pain and inflammation, torticollis, unstable/acute osteoarthritis, any recent fracture, vertigo, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, chronic heart disease, myocardial infarction or pregnancy