Cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercises with and without connective tissue massage for chronic mechanical neck pain: A prospective, randomised controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the effectiveness of cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercises with and without connective tissue massage (CTM) on pain, anxiety, and quality of life in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain.
Results Summary
Both groups (with and without CTM) showed reduced pain intensity and anxiety, as well as improved physical health. However, the group receiving CTM demonstrated additional benefits, including increased pressure pain threshold, improved mental health, and superior outcomes in nighttime pain intensity, state anxiety, and mental health compared to the exercise-only group.
Population
60 patients (18-65 years) with chronic mechanical neck pain.
Effective Dosage
12 sessions, 3 days/week.
Duration
4 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercise treatment with connective tissue massage (CTM) | decrease | pain intensity | patients with chronic mechanical neck pain (MNP) | - | decrease | #1 |
cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercise treatment with connective tissue massage (CTM) | decrease | level of anxiety | patients with chronic mechanical neck pain (MNP) | - | decrease | #2 |
cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercise treatment with connective tissue massage (CTM) | increase | physical health | patients with chronic mechanical neck pain (MNP) | - | increase | #3 |
cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercise treatment with connective tissue massage (CTM) | increase | pressure pain threshold | patients with chronic mechanical neck pain (MNP) | - | increase | #4 |
cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercise treatment with connective tissue massage (CTM) | increase | mental health | patients with chronic mechanical neck pain (MNP) | - | increase | #5 |
cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercise treatment without connective tissue massage (CTM) | decrease | pain intensity | patients with chronic mechanical neck pain (MNP) | - | decrease | #6 |
cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercise treatment without connective tissue massage (CTM) | decrease | level of anxiety | patients with chronic mechanical neck pain (MNP) | - | decrease | #7 |
cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercise treatment without connective tissue massage (CTM) | increase | physical health | patients with chronic mechanical neck pain (MNP) | - | increase | #8 |
cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercise treatment with connective tissue massage (CTM) | decrease | pain intensity at night | patients with chronic mechanical neck pain (MNP) | - | superior in improving | #9 |
cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercise treatment with connective tissue massage (CTM) | increase | pressure pain threshold | patients with chronic mechanical neck pain (MNP) | - | superior in improving | #10 |
cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercise treatment with connective tissue massage (CTM) | decrease | state anxiety | patients with chronic mechanical neck pain (MNP) | - | superior in improving | #11 |
cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercise treatment with connective tissue massage (CTM) | increase | mental health | patients with chronic mechanical neck pain (MNP) | - | superior in improving | #12 |
This study was planned to assess and compare the effectiveness of cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercise treatment with and without connective tissue massage (CTM) on pain, anxiety, and the quality of life in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain (MNP). Sixty patients with chronic MNP (18-65 years) were recruited and randomly allocated into stabilization exercise with (Group 1, n = 30) and without the CTM (Group 2, n = 30). The program was carried out for 12 sessions, 3 days/week in 4 weeks. Pain intensity with Visual Analog Scale, pressure pain threshold with digital algometer (JTech Medical Industries, ZEVEX Company), level of anxiety with Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory, and quality of life with Short Form-36 were evaluated before and after the treatment. After the program, pain intensity and the level of anxiety decrease, physical health increase in Group 1 and 2 were found (p < 0.05). Pressure pain threshold and mental health increase were detected in only Group 1 (p < 0.05). The intergroup comparison showed that significant difference in pain intensity at night, pressure pain threshold, state anxiety and mental health were seen in favor of Group 1 (p < 0.05). The study suggested that stabilization exercises with and without the CTM might be a useful treatment for patients with chronic MNP. However, stabilization exercises with CTM might be superior in improving pain intensity at night, pressure pain threshold, state anxiety and mental health compared to stabilization exercise alone.