Effects of Different Exercise Protocols on Physical Status, Cognitive Functions, Brain Structure, and Blood Biomarkers in People With Chronic Neck Pain

Chronic neck pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder. It has been stated in the literature that in addition to physical disabilities, cognitive problems may also be observed in these individuals. Still, the neurophysiological and biochemical mechanisms related to these disabilities are not yet sufficiently clear. Previous studies conducted on individuals with chronic neck pain are mostly evaluation studies aimed at existing disabilities, and our planned study seeks to achieve positive improvements in these disabilities by applying a treatment approach known to be effective on physical and cognitive health, such as exercise. Within the scope of the project, neuropsychological tests will be applied to the participants to evaluate attention, memory, visual and spatial structuring, language skills, and executive functions. Participants' brain structural changes will be evaluated with T1-weighted imaging, and brain perfusion changes will be evaluated with Arterial Spin Labeling imaging. Within the scope of physical condition and pain-related evaluations, participants' pain intensity, neck disability levels, muscle strength, functional capacities, pain catastrophizing level, kinesiophobia, central sensitization, and sleep quality will be evaluated. Finally, blood samples of the participants will be collected and serum concentrations of Cortisol, Interleukin 1-Beta, Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha, Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1, Interleukin-10, Irisin, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Nerve Growth Factor and Cathepsin-B will be examined. All these assessments will be applied both before and after the exercise applications, and only muscle strength and functional capacities will be measured again at the end of the 6th week so that the exercise program can progress according to the gains in physical condition. Individuals whose initial assessments are completed will be assigned to aerobic exercise, strength exercises, or home exercise control group by stratified randomization method. Exercise applications will be applied 3 days a week for 3 months and each participant will participate in a total of 36 exercise sessions individually. It is anticipated that revealing the cognitive, physical, neurophysiological, and biochemical effects of aerobic, strengthening, and home exercise practices in individuals with chronic neck pain and explaining the similarities and superiorities of different exercise practices will pave the way for planning targeted health services.