Affiliations: [a] Department of Physiotherapy, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran | [b] Department of Physiotherapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Evin, Tehran, Iran | [c] Iranian Research Center on Aging, Department of Physiotherapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Evin, Tehran, Iran | [d] Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcon, Madrid, Spain | [e] Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran | [f] University Institute of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Mohammad A. Mohseni-Bandpei, Iranian Research Center on Aging, Department of Physiotherapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, PO Box 1985713834, Evin, Tehran, Iran. E-mail:[email protected]
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: The effect of different exercise programs on cervical
flexor muscles dimensions in patients with chronic neck pain is yet to be
demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of two
exercise programs; craniocervical flexion (CCF) and cervical flexion (CF),
on flexor muscles dimensions in patients with chronic neck pain. METHODS: Following ethical approval, 60 patients were randomly assigned into either a CCF group or a CF group. Patients
in the CCF group were given CCF exercises and those in the CF group received
CF exercises. All patients received interventions for a period of ten weeks.
Pain intensity and functional disability were assessed using numerical pain
rate scale and neck disability index, respectively. Dimensions of longus
colli (LC) and sternoclidomastoid (SCM) muscles were measured using
ultrasonography (US). All measurements were taken before and after
interventions. RESULTS: Following intervention, the CCF group demonstrated a
significant increase in LC muscle dimensions including cross sectional area,
width and thickness compared with the CF group. A statistically significant
increase was found on SCM thickness in the CF group. Following intervention,
SCM thickness measurement in the CCF group showed no significant changes.
Statistically significant decrease on pain intensity and disability were
also found in both groups. CONCLUSION: Present findings demonstrated that craniocervical
flexion program which specifically recruiting deep cervical flexor muscles
increased LC muscle dimension significantly and CF program as an endurance
training program increased SCM thickness.
