J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2018 Sep 10. doi: 10.3233/BMR-171016. [Epub ahead of print]
Jeong ED, Kim CY, Kim SM, Lee SJ, Kim HD.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Cervical spinal instability often leads to neck pain and forward head posture (FHP). To improve neck pain and FHP, both the suboccipital muscle inhibition (SMI) technique and cranio-cervical flexion exercise (CCFE) have been used. However, little is known regarding the validity of hamstring flexibility in neck pain subjects after CCFE as a treatment index, and comparison between the SMI technique and CCFE for neck pain treatment.
OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to determine the short-term effects of SMI technique and CCFE, which represent passive and active exercise programs, respectively, and whether these improve the straight leg raise (SLR) test results, popliteal angle (PA), cranio-vertebral angle (CVA), and cervical range of motion (CROM) and are equally effective in immediate enhancement of such measures in neck pain subjects.
METHODS:
Twenty subjects with neck pain were randomly allocated to the SMI and CCFE groups (n= 10 each). The outcomes were evaluated via clinical evaluation and SLR, PA, CVA, and CROM measurement before and after intervention.
RESULTS:
SLR test results, popliteal angle (PA), cranio-vertebral angle CVA (sitting and standing), and cervical range of motion CROM (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and right and left rotations) after both interventions were significantly higher than those before the interventions (P< 0.05). The SLR test results (left), PA, and CVA (standing) after the SMI technique improved to levels similar to those observed after CCFE.
CONCLUSIONS:
Both the SMI technique and CCFE improve SLR test results, PA, CVA, and CROM and are equally effective in immediate enhancement of the hamstring flexibility, CVA, and CROM in subjects with neck pain.
KEYWORDS:
Cervical range of motion; cranio-cervical flexion exercise; cranio-vertebral angle; hamstring flexibility; suboccipital muscle inhibition technique
PMID: 30248030 DOI: 10.3233/BMR-171016