ISSN : 2663-2187

Comparison and Correlation of Cervical Proprioception, Muscle Strength and Posture among Participants with Neck Pain- Randomized Controlled Trial

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Sindhuja Munuswamy,Kanimozhiselvi Sounderrajan Jamunarani,Radhika Jayaraman,Antony Leo Aseer,Uma Kalyanasundaram,Shyamaladevi Babu
» doi: 10.48047/AFJBS.6.12.2024.1326-1336

Abstract

Cervical proprioception, the ability of neck muscles and joints to sense position and movement, is crucial for head and neck stability. Deficits in cervical proprioception can lead to impaired motor control, neck pain, and dysfunction. This study investigates the effectiveness of proprioceptive training for deep cervical flexors in reducing pain, enhancing proprioception, and improving muscular endurance in patients with neck pain. The study involved 40 patients aged 20-45, divided into two groups of 20. Group A (control) received conventional therapy, while Group B (experimental) participated in deep flexor training with pressure biofeedback and cervical proprioceptive training using a laser feedback unit. The intervention spanned 4-8 weeks with three sessions per week. Assessments included the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), Deep Cervical Flexors (DCF) endurance test, and Joint Position Error (JPE) test and the Data were analyzed. Post-treatment assessments revealed significant improvements in pain (VAS: pre-treatment mean = 6.00 ± 1.08, post-treatment mean = 3.00 ± 0.30), disability (NDI: pre-treatment mean = 13.2 ± 6.89, post-treatment mean = 11.2 ± 5.38), craniovertebral alignment (CVA: pre-treatment mean = 4.35 ± 2.98, post-treatment mean = 4.01 ± 0.32), and muscular endurance (DCF endurance: pre-treatment mean = 26 ± 1.32, post-treatment mean = 29 ± 2.23), with the experimental group showing superior outcomes. Deep flexor training with pressure biofeedback and cervical proprioceptive training proved more effective than conventional therapy, resulting in significant improvements in pain, disability, craniovertebral alignment, muscular endurance, and overall quality of life. This highlights the importance of targeted proprioceptive interventions in optimizing rehabilitation for neck pain patients. Future researches are needed to explore long-term outcomes of these interventions to determine their sustained benefits.

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