stabilization exercises

Chronic non-specific neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders in modern society and is considered a cause of disability in many jobs, especially in office workers.

In this study, 36 female office worker with mean±SD age of 39.20±4.29 years, mean ± SD weight of 70.60±12.37 kg and mean±SD height of 163.15±6.23 cm were randomly divided into three groups: 1. Dynamic neuromuscular stability exercises 2. Stabilization Exercises and 3. Control group. Stabilization exercises with emphasis on the effect on deep neck muscles dynamic neuromuscular stability exercises with emphasis on the effect on cervical thoracic and lumbar pelvic chain coordination were performed for six weeks (3 sessions per week). Visual Analog Scale and disability questionnaire were used to measure the pain and disability of the subjects, respectively, and to measure muscle tolerance, two methods of assessing activation score and deep neck flexor muscle performance index were used by compression biofeedback device. Finally, data analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 22)at the significance level of P=0.05.

The one-way ANOVA test results showed a significant difference between the three groups in all variables (P<0.05). The Turkey post hoc test results showed no significant difference between the pain score and disability of the dynamic neuromuscular stability exercises and stabilization exercise groups (P>0.05). On the other hand, the results showed that after six weeks of training, there was no significant difference between muscle activation score and muscle performance index in the control and stabilization exercise groups (P>0.05).

Both training protocols had a significant effect on reducing pain and disability. However, dynamic neuromuscular stability and stabilization exercises substantially increased the tolerance of deep neck flexor muscles compared with the stabilization exercises group. It can also be a better approach to treat non-specific chronic neck pain.

The global postural reeducation (GPR) method seems to be an effective method for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders; therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effect and durability of 6 weeks of GPR and lumbar stability exercises on movement control, pain and disability in men with chronic nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) with lumbar movement control dysfunction.

Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 46 men with non-specific chronic low back pain (LBP) with lumbar movement control dysfunction were selected and randomly divided into three groups (two exercise groups - one control group). Training intervention groups practiced for six weeks, three sessions per week. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Roland Morris questionnaire, and movement control test were used to measure pain, level of physical disability, and lumbar movement control, respectively. Repeated measures ANOVA was utilized to compare the effect and durability of the two training protocols on the dependent variables at a significant level.

Results from this research showed that both types of exercises reduced pain (P=0.001) and improved disability index (P=0.001) and lumbar movement control (P=0.001). Our findings suggested that a GPR intervention for 6 weeks (P=0.040) and inactivity for 4 weeks (P=0.001) resulted in a greater improvement in disability compared to the lumbar stabilization exercises (LSEs).

Both types of exercises seem to be effective in improving lumbar movement control, pain, and disability in people with movement control dysfunction after both training and inactivity. The GPR method improved disability more than the LSEs.