Effect Of Home Exercise Program Versus Stretching Program on Chest Expansion For Patients With Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain

Objective To compare the effectiveness of Tele-rehabilitations (home exercise program) to stretching exercise programs for patients with chronic non-specific mechanical neck pain.DesignRandomized controlled studySubjectsA total of 30 subjects; between 30 to 50 years old (both male and female) participated in the study; all of which were diagnosed with mechanical neck painInterventionPatients were randomized into two groups of 15 patients. Group (A) were treated with a stretching exercise program, and Group (B) were supplied a home exercise program and professional advice. Patients in both groups were assessed prior to the investigation and 2 weeks post-treatment. Outcome measures were collected pre-intervention and immediately after the intervention. These included: a visual analogue scale, active cervical range of motion (ROM), and chest expansion. ResultsThe results were obtained via a Two-way mixed model multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA).There were statistically significant differences between group A and Group B for pain intensity level (P<0.001). However, no statistically significant differences existed between group A and Group B, regarding active cervical range of motions and chest expansion outcomes after 2 weeks of intervention (p>0.5). Conclusions It was concluded that chronic mechanical neck pain patients who were treated using a home exercise program, or a stretching exercise program would experience less pain. And those undergoing the passive stretching exercise program experienced a more significant improvement in both cervical active range of motion and chest expansion, when compared to the home exercise program.