Do Oculomotor Exercises Added to Classical Physiotherapy Contribute to Pain Intensity, Range of Motion, Activation of Deep Flexor Muscle and Function in Participants with Chronic Neck Pain?

Öz

Purpose: This study was carried out to compare the effects of oculomotor exercises (OE) combined with a classical physiotherapy (CF) program on pain intensity, range of motion (ROM), activation of deep cervical flexor (DCF) muscles and function in patients with chronic neck pain. Methods: A total of 48 patients were equally randomized into two groups to receive CF+OE or CF. The protocol was applied for three days in a week for a total of 8 weeks with complete 24 sessions. Numeric Pain Scale used for neck pain intensity, an inclinometer for cervical ROM, biofeedback pressure unit for activation of DCF and Neck Disability Index for evaluating function. Results: Both groups experienced a significant decrease in neck pain intensity (p<0.001) with similarity (p>0.05). A significant increase was observed in ROM values in all directions in both groups (p<0.05), difference between the groups was found in favor of CF+OE group (p<0.05). A significant increase was observed in the activation of DCF muscles and function (p<0.001) in both groups. The activation of the DCF (p<0.001) and function (p=0.020) in CF+OE group was identified to be higher than the CF. OE and CF were found to be effective in the improvement of clinical symptoms in patients with chronic neck pain. Conclusion: OE added to CF can be chosen for patients with limitation in rotational direction hence it increases activation of DCF due to its proprioceptive training content, and produces more effective results on function.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Neck pain
• Exercise
• Range of motion

Kronik boyun ağrılı bireylerde klasik fizyoterapiye eklenen okulomotor egzersizler ağrı şiddeti, eklem hareketi, derin fleksör kas aktivasyonu ve fonksiyonellik üzerine ilave katkı sağlar mı?

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışma, kronik boyun ağrısı (KBA) olan bireylerde klasik fizyoterapi (KF) programı ile okülomotor egzersizlerin (OE) ağrı şiddeti, eklem hareket açıklığı (EHA), derin servikal fleksör (DSF) kaslarının aktivasyonu ve fonksiyon üzerine etkilerini karşılaştırmak amacıyla gerçekleştirildi. Yöntem: 48 KBA’lı birey KF ve KF+OE olmak üzere iki gruba randomize edildi. Bireylere, 8 hafta boyunca haftada üç gün, 24 seans uygulandı. Numerik Ağrı Skalası ile boyun ağrısı şiddeti, inklinometre ile servikal EHA, biyofeedback basınç ünitesi ile DSF kasların aktivasyonu ve Boyun Özürlülük İndeksi ile fonksiyon değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Her iki grupta da boyun ağrısı şiddetinde anlamlı azalma elde edildi (p<0,05). Bu azalma gruplar arasında benzerdi (p>0,05). Her iki grupta tüm EHA yönlerinde anlamlı artış görüldü (p<0,05). Gruplar arası fark KF+OE grubu lehine bulundu (p<0,05). Her iki grupta da DSF kasların aktivasyonunda ve fonksiyonellikte anlamlı artış gözlendi (p<0,001). KF+OE grubunda DSF aktivasyonu (p<0,001) ve fonksiyonellik (p<0,020) KF'ye göre daha yüksek olduğu görüldü. KBA’lı bireylerde klinik semptomların iyileşmesinde OE ve KF'nin etkili olduğu bulundu. Sonuç: Klasik fizyoterapiye eklenen OE’nin rotasyonel yöndeki hareket kısıtlılıkları belirgin olan hastalarda tercih edilebileceği, proprioseptif eğitim içerikli olması nedeniyle derindeki kasların aktivasyonunu arttırabileceği kronik boyun ağrılı hastalarda fonksiyonellik üzerinde daha etkin sonuçlar oluşturduğu sonucuna varıldı.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Boyun ağrısı
• Egzersiz
• Eklem hareket açıklığı

Kaynakça

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