Article

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of cranio-cervical flexion vs cervical
proprioception training on neuromuscular control, pressure pain sensitivity and
perceived pain and disability in patients with chronic neck pain. METHODS:
Twenty-eight volunteers with chronic non-specific neck pain were randomly
assigned to 1 of 2 interventions and undertook 6 physiotherapist-supervised
sessions over a period of 2 months. Both groups performed daily home exercise.
Performance on the cranio-cervical flexion test, pressure pain thresholds and
reported levels of pain and disability were measured before and immediately after
the first treatment session, 1 month after starting treatment and 2 months after
starting treatment (at completion of the intervention). RESULTS: At 2 months,
both groups improved their performance on the cranio-cervical flexion test (p <
0.05), but this did not differ between groups (p > 0.05). Both groups showed a
reduction in their pain at rest and disability at 2 months, but this was also not
different between groups (p > 0.05). Pressure pain sensitivity did not change for
either group. CONCLUSION: Both specific cranio-cervical flexion training and
proprioception training had a comparable effect on performance on the
cranio-cervical flexion test, a test of the neuromuscular control of the deep
cervical flexors. These results indicate that proprioception training may have
positive effects on the function of the deep cervical flexors.

Langue : ANGLAIS