The Effect of Physical Therapy on Pain and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

Öz

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of physical therapy (PT) on pain, functional status, depressive symptoms, and quality of life in patients with chronic neck pain (CNP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was designed as a randomized controlled trial involving outpatient clinic patients at a tertiary care hospital and included 80 patients with CNP. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups. The treatment group (TG) received ten sessions of conventional PT (hot pack, ultrasound, and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) and home-based exercises. The control group (CG) was only given a home-based exercise program. Both groups were informed about correct posture and daily life activities. Patients were assessed pre-treatment, at the end of treatment (2 weeks), and 12 weeks after the treatment using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS pain), cervical range of motion (ROM), Beck Depression Index (BDI), and short form-36 (SF-36). RESULTS: Both groups showed significant improvements in VAS pain scores, ROM, SF-36, and BDI scores post-treatment (p<0.01 for all). At the three-month follow-up, the improvements in the TG continued, while the CG showed a regression compared to the levels observed two weeks after the treatment. The degree of improvement in VAS pain and BDI scores in the TG was significantly greater than in the CG (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: In the treatment of CNP, adding PT modalities to the home exercise resulted in greater reductions in pain, disability, and depressive symptoms, as well as improvements in quality of life compared to home exercise alone. It’s appropriate to recommend PT modalities as a beneficial treatment for CNP.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• chronic neck pain
• quality of life
• exercise
• physical therapy modalities

Kronik Boyun Ağrılı Hastalarda Fizik Tedavinin Klinik Durum ve Yaşam Kalitesi Üzerine Etkisi: Prospektif Randomize Kontrollü Bir Çalışma

Öz

AMAÇ: Bu çalışmanın amacı, kronik boyun ağrısı (KBA) olan hastalarda fizik tedavinin (FT) ağrı, fonksiyonel durum, depresif semptomlar ve yaşam kalitesi üzerindeki etkinliğini değerlendirmektir. GEREÇ ve YÖNTEM: Çalışma, 3. basamak hastane tabanlı, randomize kontrollü olarak tasarlanmıştır. KBA olan 80 hasta iki gruba randomize edilmiştir. Tedavi grubuna (TG), on seans konvansiyonel FT (sıcak paket, ultrason ve Transkutanöz Elektriksel Sinir Stimülasyonu) ve ev egzersiz programı verilmiştir. Kontrol grubuna (KG) ise yalnızca ev egzersiz programı verilmiştir. Her iki gruba da doğru duruş, günlük yaşam eğitimi verilmiştir. Hastalar, tedavi öncesi, tedavi sonunda (2 hafta) ve tedaviden 12 hafta sonra Vizüel Analog Skoru (VAS ağrı), servikal eklem hareket açıklığı (EHA), Beck Depresyon Ölçeği (BDÖ) ve yaşam kalitesi kısa form-36 (SF-36) kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir. BULGULAR: Her iki grup da tedavi sonrası VAS ağrı skorları, servikal EHA, SF-36 ve BDÖ skorlarında anlamlı iyileşmeler göstermiştir (tüm parametrelerde, p<0,01). Üç aylık takipte, TG’deki iyileşmeler devam ederken; KG’de tedavi sonrası ikinci haftada gözlemlenen düzeylerde gerileme izlenmiştir. TG’deki VAS ağrı ve BDÖ skorlarındaki iyileşme derecesi, KG’ye göre anlamlı derecede daha fazladır (her biri için, p<0,01). SONUÇ: Kronik boyun ağrısı tedavisinde, ev egzersiz programına FT modalitelerinin eklenmesi, yalnızca ev egzersiz programına göre ağrı, engellilik ve depresif semptomlarda daha büyük azalmalar ile yaşam kalitesinde daha fazla iyileşmeler sağlamıştır. Kronik boyun ağrısında FT modalitelerinin faydalı bir tedavi olarak önerilmesi uygun gözükmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• kronik boyun ağrısı
• yaşam kalitesi
• egzersiz
• fizik tedavi modaliteleri

Kaynakça

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