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

Overview

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.

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.