Comparison of Eccentric Muscle Training and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Techniques in Neck Pain

Comparison of Eccentric Muscle Training and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Techniques in Individuals With Non-specific Neck Pain

This trial compared eccentric exercise training and the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) technique, each added to a common cervical stretching and stabilisation programme, in individuals with non-specific neck pain. Outcomes were neck-related disability, multidimensional pain, cervical range of motion, deep cervical flexor endurance, kinesiophobia and health-related quality of life, assessed at baseline and after 6 weeks.

The study was planned as a quantitative study. Volunteer individuals with nonspecific neck pain between the ages of 18-65 will be included in the study, and the participants will be randomly distributed into 3 groups. Control group (n=15), proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation technique application group (n=15), eccentric muscle training technique application group (n=15). People included in the study will be explained in detail and will be asked to sign a voluntary consent form approved by the ethics committee. Demographic information of individuals in all three groups will be recorded first. Participants in all three groups will be evaluated at the beginning and end of the applications. In our study, participants were evaluated with the McGill Pain Questionnaire to evaluate the character and character of pain, their physical fitness with the Deep Neck Flexor Endurance Test, their functionality related to daily living activities with the Neck Disability Index (NDI, and their quality of life with the World Health Organization Short Form of Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale and a goniometer for Cervical Region Joint Range of Motion Measurement will be used to evaluate kinesiophobia, which is the fear of pain and re-injury, as well as anxiety towards activity and physical movement. This study will be planned five times a week for six weeks. Stretching and stabilization exercises will be applied to the control group in 3 sets of 10 repetitions.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

• Being between the ages of 18-65
• Deep cervical flexor endurance time of less than 60 seconds on the modified craniocervical flexor endurance test at screening. Candidates able to hold the test position for 60 seconds or longer were considered to have sufficient deep cervical flexor endurance and were not enrolled.
• History of neck pain that has persisted for at least 7 days
• Agreeing to participate in the study
• Having the ability to read and write Turkish. EXCLUSION CRITERIA
• Radiculopathy and structural disorder in the cervical region,
• Surgery to the cervical region,
• Inflammatory disease,
• Severe psychological illness,
• Presence of infection in the bone and soft tissue in the cervical spine,
• Malignancy,
• Advanced osteoporosis,
• Those with upper extremity pathologies,
• Having a neurological disease that will prevent treatment
• Having previously undergone cervical region and spine surgery
• Having been included in a physiotherapy program for the neck and back area in the last 6 months,
• It was defined as the administration of drugs such as NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) and opioids in the last 24 hours.