• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.456-464
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• 2017

Objective : Although little is known about its origins, neck pain may be related to several associated anatomical pathologies. We aimed to characterize the incidence and features of chronic neck pain and analyze the relationship between neck pain severity and its affecting factors. Methods : Between March 2012 and July 2013, we studied 216 patients with chronic neck pain. Initially, combined tramadol (37.5 mg) plus acetaminophen (325 mg) was administered orally twice daily (b.i.d.) to all patients over a 2-week period. After two weeks, patients were evaluated for neck pain during an outpatient clinic visit. If the numeric rating scale of the patient had not decreased to 5 or lower, a cervical medial branch block (MBB) was recommended after double-dosed previous medication trial. We classified all patients into two groups (mild vs. severe neck pain group), based on medication efficacy. Logistic regression tests were used to evaluate the factors associated with neck pain severity. Results : A total of 198 patients were included in the analyses, due to follow-up loss in 18 patients. While medication was successful in reducing pain in 68.2% patients with chronic neck pain, the remaining patients required cervical MBB. Lateral cervical curvature, such as a straight or sigmoid type curve, was found to be significantly associated with the severity of neck pain. Conclusion : We managed chronic neck pain with a simple pharmacological management protocol followed by MBB. We should keep in mind that it may be difficult to manage the patient with straight or sigmoid lateral curvature only with oral medication.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.242-252
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• 2023

Background: Neck pain is a common problem in the general population and second only to low back pain in musculoskeletal problems. The aim of this study is to compare three different types of exercise training in patients with chronic neck pain. Methods: This study was conducted on 45 patients with neck pain. Patients were divided into 3 groups: Group 1 (conventional treatment), Group 2 (conventional treatment plus deep cervical flexor training), and Group 3 (conventional treatment plus stabilization of the neck and core region). The exercise programs were applied for four weeks, three days a week. The demographic data, pain intensity (verbal numeric pain scale), posture (Reedco's posture scale), cervical range of motion ([ROM] goniometer), and disability (Neck Disability Index [NDI]) were evaluated. Results: In all groups, a significant improvement was found in terms of pain, posture, ROM, and NDI values in all groups (P < 0.001). Between the groups, analyses showed that the pain and posture improved more in Group 3, while the ROM and NDI improved more in Group 2. Conclusions: In addition to conventional treatment, applying core stabilization exercises or deep cervical flexor muscle training to patients with neck pain may be more effective in reducing pain and disability and increasing ROM than conventional treatment alone.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2022

Background: Neck pain is a major health problem in developed countries and has a lifetime prevalence of 50%. Major problems include a reduced cervical range of motion, muscle stiffness, dysfunction, postural changes, and decrease in psychosocial level. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effects of applying the upper trapezius inhibition dynamic taping to patients with chronic neck pain on their neck pain, functional level, cervical range of motion, psychosocial level, and neck posture. Methods: The study design was a randomized controlled trial. A total of 40 patients with neck pain participated in this study and were randomly assigned to a Dynamic Taping group (n = 20) or Sham Taping group (n = 20). In both groups, basic intervention cervical pain control therapy and shoulder stabilization exercise program were performed. In addition, dynamic taping and sham taping were applied to participants in the Dynamic Taping and Sham Taping groups to inhibit the trapezius muscle, respectively. All interventions were performed three times a week and a total of 12 times for 4 weeks, and the participants' neck pain, functional impairment level, cervical range of motion, psychosocial level, and neck posture were measured and compared before and after the intervention. Results: Both groups showed significant differences in neck pain, functional level, cervical range of motion, psychosocial level, and neck postural before and after the intervention (p < 0.05). Moreover, there were significant differences between the two groups regarding the functional level and neck posture (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Inhibition dynamic taping of the upper trapezius muscle suppression is an effective method with clinical significance in reducing pain in individuals with chronic neck pain and improving the functional level, cervical range of motion, psychosocial level, and neck posture.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.458-465
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• 2020

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the interaction between neck and/or wrist pain and hand grip strength (HGS) and to investigate factors (age, sex, neck disorders, and carpal tunnel syndrome) influencing the HGS of industrial quality proofing workers (N = 145). Methods: Standardized questionnaires [Neck Disability Index (NDI), Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire] were used to evaluate existing neck and/or wrist pain. HGS measurements were performed in different wrist positions. Results: Significant differences between participants with and without neck pain were found in different wrist positions, in neutral wrist position right [without neck pain (n = 48) 46.34 (43.39 - 49.30); with neck pain (n = 97) 38.46 (36.20 - 40.72), F_(1,144) = 16.82, p < 0.001, ŋ_p² = 0.11] and left [without neck pain 44.06 (41.19 - 46.94); with neck pain 37.36 (35.13 - 39.58), F_(1,144) = 12.70, p < 0.001, ŋ_p² = 0.08]. A significant difference between participants with and without wrist pain was found for neutral wrist position right [without wrist pain (n = 105) 42.53 (40.37 - 44.70); with wrist pain (n = 40) 37.24 (33.56 - 40.91), F_(1,144) = 6.41, p = 0.01, ŋ_p² = 0.04]. Regression analysis showed significant results especially for steps two (age and weight, NDI) and three (age and weight, NDI, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire) for neutral position right (R² = 0.355, R² = 0.357, respectively). Conclusion: Neck pain has an impact on HGS but should be evaluated in consideration of age and sex.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.423-432
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• 2012

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate balance changes in young patients with neck pain by comparing postural sway velocity and velocity moment between young patients with neck pain and healthy subjects. METHODS: The cross-sectional study enrolled fifteen young patients with over 3-month duration of the neck pain and twelve healthy subjects between the ages of 20 and 30 years old. All subjects were measured their postural sway velocity and velocity moment during quiet standing with eyes open and eyes closed conditions. We compared the differences of postural sway velocity and velocity moment between neck pain patients and healthy subjects, and between eye open and eye close. RESULTS: Significant differences were evident in the anteroposterior and mediolateral sway velocity, and velocity moment of center-of-pressure (COP) between patients with neck pain and healthy subjects (p<.05), and in patients with neck pain in the eyes open and eyes closed conditions (p<.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the balance of young patients with neck pain was worse than healthy subjects during quiet standing, and was especially lessened in the absence of vision. The finding may inform management program to decrease the balance deficits in young patients with neck pain.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.63-74
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the effects of manual therapy with stabilization exercises to manual therapy alone, on neck pain and body functions in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain. METHODS: Twenty patients with chronic mechanical neck pain were recruited and randomly allocated into two groups. A control group(n = 10) was given the manual therapy alone and an experimental group(n = 10) was given the manual therapy with stabilization exercises. The intervention was carried out 3 days per week for 4 weeks. The cervical resting pain, the most painful motion pain, craniocervical flexor endurance, forward head posture and neck disability index were used to assess participants at baseline and after 4 weeks. RESULTS: A comparison of the parameters before and after the intervention showed that both groups experienced significant improvements in the resting pain, the most painful motion pain, craniocervical flexor endurance, and forward head posture except for the forward head posture in the control group. A comparison of the parameters between the groups did not show a significant difference. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the combined intervention of manual therapy with stabilization exercise does not seem to be more effective than manual therapy alone for improving neck pain, craniocervical flexor endurance, forward head posture, and the neck disability index in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.29-40
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• 2019

PURPOSE: Despite the widespread occurrence in the general population, few studies have directly evaluated the effects of shingles on non-specific neck pain (NSNP). This study investigated whether sensory training or therapeutic stretching exercises are more effective in increasing neck mobility and reducing neck pain in chronic NSNP patients. METHODS: Eighty-one subjects aged between 20 and 32 years with chronic neck pain (> six months), were allocated randomly to three groups: sensorimotor training group (STG), therapeutic stretching group (TSG), and home exercise group (HEG). All participants received a half-hour training session, three times weekly for six weeks. The outcomes were evaluated using the neck disability index for measuring neck pain, and a universal goniometer to measure the cervical passive range of motion before and after the six-week intervention. RESULTS: The post-test neck disability index scores in the STG (t = 4.86) and TSG (t = 3.24) were decreased significantly (p < .05). The passive range of motion changes in all cervical movements in the STG was increased significantly (p < .05) after intervention compared to those in the other two groups. CONCLUSION: Sensorimotor training using chin tuck exercises may improve neck pain and mobility in subjects with chronic NSNP.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1803-1809
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• 2019

Background: Cervical mobilization has been applied mainly for the improvement of arm and neck movements and pain reduction, and little research has been done to improve the executive function. Since this kind of so-called mechanical neck pain is one of most common symptoms, there are controversial issues about this with spine alignment. Posteroanterior (PA) mobilization from the Maitland concept is a process of examination, assessment, and treatment of neuromusculoskeletal disorder by manipulative physical therapy. Objective: To examine the short-term benefits of mobilization for patients with non-specific neck pain. Design: Dual-group Pretest-Posttest Design from the Quasi-Experimental research Methods: Fourteen participants (male 8, female 6; 20's of their age) with non-specific neck pains which are distributed all the unilateral or bilateral body side were recruited. Participants were categorized to Neck Pain with Movement Coordination Impairments (NPMCI) and Neck Pain with Mobility Deficits (NPMD) groups according to the results of physical examination. Professional physical therapist who has over 15-years-of clinical experience applicated manipulative therapy for the neck pain, an occupational therapist only conducted evaluations; K-NDI (Korean version of the Neck Disability Index), VAS (Visual Analog Scale), BDS-K (Korean version of Behavioral Dyscontrol Scale) for decreasing possible adverse effects; there were no person who reported other symptoms followed 4 weeks from the trial. Results: In the NPMCI group, data analysis indicated statistical differences between the PA mobilization interventions in NDI and BDS-K; even though, pain was reduced in VAS, this is not a significantly differ. In the NPMD group, data analysis represented statistical differences between the PA mobilization interventions in NDI, VAS and BDS-K; the scores were represented to be increased or the pain got relief. Conclusions: PA mobilization techniques according to Maitland concept have beneficial effects in patients with neck pain and other clinical positive effects which included neck disability, pain itself and motor function of upper extremity.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.35-41
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• 2021

Purpose : It is necessary to demonstrate the effect of non-invasive and non-pharmacological interventions such as manual therapy and therapeutic exercise for the management of nonspecific neck pain. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of myofascial release therapy plus therapeutic exercise for disability owing to neck pain and quality of life in individuals with nonspecific neck pain. Methods : Eighteen participants with nonspecific neck pain were randomly allocated to intervention (n=9) and control groups (n=9). The intervention group received a myofascial release therapy for 20 min and performed neck stabilization exercises for 30 min twice a week for 4 weeks. The control group performed neck stabilization exercises for 30 min twice a week for 4 weeks at the same time points as the intervention group. Disability owing to neck pain and quality of life were quantified using the neck disability index (NDI) and the Korean version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF), respectively. NDI and WHOQOL-BREF were assessed before and after intervention. Results : The disability owing to neck pain significantly changed between the groups over time (total score of NDI, p=.049). There were significant time and group interactions in pain (pain intensity of NDI, p=.035) and concentration (concentration of NDI, p=.049). Personal care, lifting, reading, headaches, work, driving, sleeping, and recreation did not show significant improvement between the groups over time. Total score, overall quality of life and general health, physical health domain, psychological domain, social relationships domain, and environmental domain quantified by WHOQOL-BREF did not show significant improvements between the groups over time. Conclusion : These results suggest the clinical use of myofascial release therapy in addition to therapeutic exercise for the management of nonspecific neck pain. Further studies are needed to generalize the findings of this study.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.213-225
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors related on pain in female office workers. Methods : Neck pain group of 31 female subjects complained of neck and arm discomfort. Normal group of 20 female subjects had no complaints or minimal discomfort. Cervical curvature and muscle tone were assessed by whole spine x-ray, meridian-electromyography(MEMG), craniovertebral angle, and Moire. Neck pain was evaluated by Neck Disability Index(NDI) and Visual Analog Scale(VAS). The emotional and other physical factors that could effect neck pain were checked by questionnaires including Beck Depression Index(BDI), Stress Reaction Index(SRI), Holmes & Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale(SRRS), International Physical Activity Questionnaire(IPAQ), and Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale(GSRS). Results : The contraction and fatigue of upper trapezius by MEMG was significantly higher in the neck pain group. And BDI, SRI, SRRS, and GSRS were significantly higher in the neck pain group (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the Jackson's angle, Cobb's method, craniovertebral angle, and moire between two groups. Conclusions : The results suggest that neck pain is related to mental stress rather than physical stress and physical stress does not change cervical curvature significantly.