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

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Neck Pain
Interventions
Other: Isotonic Exercises
Other: Isometric Exercises
Registration Number
NCT05865951
Lead Sponsor
Riphah International University
Brief Summary

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.

Detailed 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.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
22
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

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
chronic neck pain and isotonic groupIsotonic ExercisesGroup 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.
chronic neck pain and isometric exercises group:Isometric ExercisesGroup 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.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS):up to 12 weeks

It is a unidimensional outcome measure that is used for measuring intensity of chronic pain. It is a verbally administered scale rating from 0 to 10 where 10 quantifies worse pain intensity and 5 as a moderate intensity. The simplicity in pain scoring makes it a reliable scale with reliability 0.96 in literate and 0.95 in illiterate patients whereas validity ranges from 0.86 to 0.95.

Universal GONIOMETER for Range of Motionup to 12 weeks

It is the device used for measuring range of motion of joints. One of the type of goniometer to be used in this study is universal goniometer with two arms, one arm is maintained at neutral position whereby the other arm moves with the moving part of body. The inter-observer reliability remains at 0.99 whereas validity being 0.97

Hand-Held DYNAMOMETER for muscle strength measurementup to 12 weeks

Dynamometer is a hand-held device used to measure thestrength of muscles. It is to be placed as a resistance in the movement to quantify the muscle strength into force unit. It has reliability from 0.94 to 0.97.

NECK DISABILITY INDEX (NDI):up to 12 weeks

It is a function specific questionnaire designed to measure thelevel of disability and restriction in activities of daily living. It comprises of 10 questions about daily living while the score is converted to percentage where 0% indicates no limitation in function while 50-100% indicates complete activity limitation. It has moderate test re-test reliability where ICC varies between 0.50 and 0.98, while it constructs a good validity.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) for quality of lifeup to 12 weeks

This survey quantifies the quality of life. It comprises of 36questions related to health, physical activity and psychology. It has shown to be reliable and a valid questionnaire.Scores for the different domains are converted and pooled using a scoring key, for a total score indicating a range of low to high quality of life.SF-36 scores range from 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Noor Fatima Hospital

🇵🇰

Dinga, Punjab, Pakistan

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