Comparison of Isometric and Isotonic Strengthening Exercises in Chronic Neck Pain Patients.

Riphah International University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Neck Pain

Treatments: Other: Isotonic Exercises; Other: Isometric Exercises

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05865951

REC/RCR & AHS/23/0117

Details and patient eligibility

About

Study will be a Randomized clinical trial to check the effects of isometric and isotonic strength training exercises on patients with chronic neck pain. The data will be collected in a hospital setting where patients of chronic mechanical neck pain will be screened out for the fulfillment of eligibility criteria of this study. After being eligible for this study their baseline outcome measures will be measured using Numeric pain rating scale, neck disability index, goniometer, dynamometer and short form 36 survey. Then they will be divided into two groups namely group A receiving isometric exercises with conventional treatment and group B receiving isotonic exercises with conventional treatment. Here conventional treatment includes thermotherapy, manual mobilisation of cervical and thoracic and trigger point therapy which will be a common treatment for both groups. The outcome measures will be measured later at 4th,8th and 12th week.

Full description

Chronic neck pain is a burden to health globally and is the major reason behind years of disability. This is due to the higher prevalence, persistence and recurrence.It is a frequent reason for visit to physical therapist or a physician. It is the major health concern for society these days with highest recurrence rate combined with its chronicity. The overall worldwide prevalence for it is 16.7% to 75.1%. There is scarce knowledge of use of isotonic neck muscles strengthening in clinical trials. Moreover the literature has not satisfied the long term effects of isometric and isotonic strength training exercises of cervical muscles on improving the health related quality of life and restoring the normal function of cervical spine.

The findings of current study will help to establish long term effects of isometric and isotonic strengthening exercises on pain, strength, function and quality of life in chronic mechanical neck pain patients.

Neck strength training exercises have shown to reduce neck muscle injuries in sports.Neck strength training has also proved beneficial in reducing neck pain as part of training.

The static muscle contractions of neck muscles of patient being seated with the resistance of palm of physiotherapist being standing will be performed in six cervical movements i.e. flexion, extension, right lateralflexion, left lateral flexion, right rotation, left rotation.

The dynamic muscle contractions of neck muscles will be performed using thera-band for resistance tied on the wall for all six movements of cervical spine.

Enrollment: 22 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 25 to 55 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• No discrimination against gender
• Age group 25-55 years
• Complain of chronic mechanical neck pain for more than 3 months

Exclusion criteria

• Spinal cord injury
• Malignancy
• Cervical fracture
• Any bony or soft tissue systemic disease
• Ankylosis spondylitis
• Craniovertebral disorders
• Any cervical deformity

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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22 participants in 2 patient groups

chronic neck pain and isometric exercises group:

Experimental group

Description:

Group A performed exercises for 12 weeks. Participants performed isometric exercises along with conventional physical therapy treatment ( thermotherapy, manual mobilisation of cervical spine and trigger point therapy). All exercises were performed for 3 sessions per week for a period of 12 weeks.

Treatment:

Other: Isometric Exercises

chronic neck pain and isotonic group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Group B performed exercises for 12 weeks. Participants performed isotonic exercises along with conventional physical therapy treatment ( thermotherapy, manual mobilisation of cervical spine and trigger point therapy). All exercises were performed for 3 sessions per week for a period of 12 weeks.

Treatment:

Other: Isotonic Exercises