Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of neck and shoulder stretching
exercises for relief neck pain among office workers.
DESIGN: Randomized
controlled trial. SETTING:
An outpatient setting. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 96
subjects with moderate-to-severe neck pain (visual analogue score 5/10) for 3
months. INTERVENTIONS:
All participants received an informative brochure
indicating the proper position and ergonomics to be applied during daily work.
The treatment group received the additional instruction to perform neck and
around shoulder stretching exercises two times/day, five days/week during four
weeks. MAIN OUTCOMES: Pain, neck functions, and quality of life were evaluated at
baseline and week 4 using pain visual analogue scale, Northwick Park Neck Pain
Questionnaire, and Short Form-36, respectively.
RESULTS:
Both groups had
comparable baseline data. All outcomes were improved significantly from baseline.
When compared between groups, the magnitude of improvement was significantly
greater in the treatment group than in the control group (-1.4; 95% CI: -2.2,
-0.7 for visual analogue scale; -4.8; 95% CI: -9.3, -0.4 for Northwick Park Neck
Pain Questionnaire; and 14.0; 95% CI: 7.1, 20.9 for physical dimension of the
Short Form-36). Compared with the patients who performed exercises <3 times/week,
those who exercised 3 times/week yielded significantly greater improvement in
neck function and physical dimension of quality of life scores (p = 0.005 and p =
0.018, respectively). CONCLUSION: A regular stretching exercise program performed
for four weeks can decrease neck and shoulder pain and improve neck function and
quality of life for office workers who have chronic moderate-to-severe neck or
shoulder pain.
CI - (c) The Author(s) 2015.

Langue : ANGLAIS