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pISSN 2005-9159
eISSN 2093-0569
eISSN 2093-0569
Korean J Pain 2023; 36(2): 242-252
Published online April 1, 2023 https://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.22371
Copyright © The Korean Pain Society.
Besta Hazal Gumuscu1 
, Eylul Pinar Kisa2 , Begum Kara Kaya2 , Rasmi Muammer3
1Department of Physiotheraphy and Rehabilitation, Institute of Health Sciences, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkiye
2Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Science, Biruni University, Istanbul, Turkiye
3Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Science, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkiye
Correspondence to:Rasmi Muammer
Division of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Science, Yeditepe University, Istanbul 34755, Turkiye
Tel: +90 216 578 0000-1463, Fax: +90 216 578 04 96, E-mail: rasmi.muammer@yeditepe.edu.tr
Handling Editor: Joon-Ho Lee
Received: November 4, 2022; Revised: February 6, 2023; Accepted: February 25, 2023
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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.
Keywords: Cervical Vertebrae, Exercise, Muscle, Skeletal, Neck Pain, Pain Measurement, Posture, Proprioception, Range of Motion, Articular.
