Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of neck coordination exercise on sensorimotor
function in women with neck pain compared with best-available treatment and sham
treatment. DESIGN: Observer-blinded randomized controlled trial with short-term
and 6-month follow-ups.
SUBJECTS: Women with chronic non-specific neck pain were
randomized to 3 groups: neck coordination exercise with a novel training device;
strength training for the neck and shoulders; or massage. Each group had 36
participants.
METHODS: The intervention period was 11 weeks with 22 individually
supervised sessions. Primary outcomes were postural sway measures and precision
of goal-directed arm movements. Secondary outcomes were range of motion for the
neck, peak speed of axial rotation, and neck pain. A repeated measures
multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted separately on the
primary outcomes for the short-term and 6-month evaluations and on the
sensorimotor secondary outcomes for the 6-month effect. The 6-month effect on
pain was analysed with a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS:
No significant treatment effects in favour of neck coordination exercise were
found for short-term or 6-month evaluations. CONCLUSION: Neck coordination
exercise is no better than strength training and massage in improving
sensorimotor function. Further research should investigate the use of cut-offs
for sensorimotor dysfunctions prior to proprioceptive or coordinative training.

Langue : ANGLAIS