Effectiveness of Global Postural Reeducation Compared to Segmental Stretching on Pain, Disability, and QOL of Subjects with Neck and Shoulder Pain

Purpose: This randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare the effectiveness of global postural reeducation to segmental stretching in subjects with neck and shoulder pain. Methods: Sixteen subjects with neck and shoulder pain were randomized into two intervention groups, a global posture reeducation group (n= 8) that performed muscle chain stretching, and a segmental stretching group (n= 8) that performed conventional static muscle stretching. The intervention program consisted of two 40 minutes individual sessions per week for four weeks. Subjects were evaluated pre-intervention, two-week after intervention and at a four-week follow-up appointment for pain intensity, disability and health-related quality of life. Two-way repeated analysis of variance was used for between-time and between-group comparisons. The significance level was 0.05. Results: Significant pain relief and decreasing discomfort of the neck and shoulder were observed after intervention in both groups, and there was an interaction between time lapse and groups (pain, F= 10.31, neck disability, F= 25.45, shoulder disability, F= 12.82, p< 0.05). Quality of life also improved after intervention in both groups. Moreover, the physical components score improved, and a significant interaction was observed between time and groups (F= 4.85, p< 0.05). However, no significant improvement in mental component score of quality of life and no significant interaction between time and groups were observed (p> 0.05).