The Effect of Conventional Treatment In Addition to Clinical Pilates Exercises in Chronic Neck Pain on Pain Level, Physical, Functional and Psychosocial Status

Neck pain is often described by pain and/or stiffness dorsal to the region between the occipital condyles and the C7 vertebra. Pain and/or disability for more than 12 weeks is defined as chronic neck pain. Neck pain is one of the major musculoskeletal disorders in the adult population. Neck pain, which is increasingly prevalent all over the world, significantly affects individuals, families, society, health care systems and businesses. This situation causes serious disability and economic costs. Two-thirds of the entire population faces neck pain at some point in their lives. Its lifetime prevalence ranges from 40% to 70%. The prevalence of neck pain increases with age. It is more common in women approximately in the 5th decade of their life.

In various studies, various changes have been observed in the activation of the superficial and deep neck flexor (DBF) muscles of individuals experiencing neck pain. In studies conducted with electroneuromyography, it was determined that neuromuscular muscle activation increased more in superficial muscles, and decreased undesirably in DBF muscles. DBF muscles provide a fundamental contribution to the preservation of physiological cervical lordosis and the maintenance of spine stability in cranio-vertebral junction movements. For this reason, exercise methods for gaining strength and endurance of these muscles have become very important recently.

The neck region contains deep suboccipital muscles with dense muscle spindles, nerve connections to the vestibular and visual systems. Especially the high muscle spindle density in the superior and inferior oblique muscles and the rectus capitis posterior major and minor muscles is important in terms of proprioceptive input in coordinated head-eye movements. In a disorder in the neck region, muscle dysfunction occurs as a result of pain, disruption of sensory-motor input, and the transfer of deep muscles to superficial muscles. All these problems can cause asymmetrical, tight, position and movement of the neck to be perceived abnormally.

Fear avoidance beliefs are significantly associated with the experience of pain, especially when the pain becomes chronic. The anticipated threat of intense pain often causes constant alertness of pain dermatomes. This can cause even low-intensity pain sensations to be unbearable for the person. Only the increased expectation of pain or re-injury can further encourage avoidance behaviors. Increased pain or fear of re-injury interferes with many activities. Studies have shown that fear of movement in chronic neck pain increases pain and disability, worsens functional status, and negatively affects physical performance.

Studies associate individuals who experience persistent neck pain with psychological factors, including cognitive stress, anxiety, and depressed mood. In addition, it has been reported that sleep disorders are seen in parallel with the severity of pain in patients with chronic neck pain. These psychological factors may play a role in the chronicity of symptoms and cause increased pain, disability or fear-avoidance.