Effect of patient education Combined with Physiotherapy on pain and functionality disability in office workers with nonspecific neck pain in Sana'a City

Background: Non-specific neck pain (NSNP) is a common condition in office workers and a leading cause of disability. While physiotherapy is a standard treatment, the added value of patient education remains underexplored, particularly in low-resource settings like Yemen. Objective: This study investigated the effect of combining patient education with physiotherapy on pain and functional outcomes in office workers with chronic NSNP in Sana’a City. Methods: 90 participants (77.9% female, mean age 33.4 ± 7.2 years) were randomized into 3 groups: Group A (physiotherapy + education, n = 29), Group B (physiotherapy alone, n = 29), and Group C (control, n = 28) 4 were excluded. Interventions were 12 sessions. Group A received structured education on ergonomics, self-management, and relaxation techniques. Primary outcomes were pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS) and functional disability (Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire). Results: Group A showed the greatest improvements, with a significant reduction in VAS scores (from 7.1 ± 0.7 to 2.1 ± 0.2, p = 0.001) and superior functional gains across NPQ domains compared to Groups B and C (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Patient education significantly enhances the effectiveness of physiotherapy in managing chronic NSNP. Integrating education into treatment protocols is recommended, especially in occupational settings and low-resource environments.