scholarly journals Efficacy of Deep Cervical Flexor Muscle Training on Neck Pain, Functional Disability, and Muscle Endurance in School Teachers: A Clinical Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Zaheen A. Iqbal ◽  
Ahmad H. Alghadir ◽  
Shahnawaz Anwer

Background. Neck pain (NP) is a common work-related disorder, with high prevalence in the profession of teaching. The daily duties of a school teacher involve head-down postures while reading and writing, which expose them to the risk of developing NP. Deep cervical flexor (DCF) muscles have been reported to have lower endurance in patients with cervical impairment, which has additionally been associated with disability. There is limited evidence regarding the efficacy of training of DCF muscles in occupational NP. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of DCF muscle training on pain, muscle endurance, and functional disability using pressure biofeedback in school teachers with NP. Methods. Sixty-five teachers (age, 25-45 years) with more than 5 years of teaching experience participated in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental (E) and control (C) groups. In the E group, the subjects underwent DCF muscle training using pressure biofeedback in addition to conventional exercises for neck pain, while those in the C group underwent conventional exercises only. Pain, muscle endurance, and disability were measured at day 0 (before the treatment) and days 14 and 42 after the treatment. Endurance of DCF muscles was measured by the craniocervical flexion test using pressure biofeedback, pain intensity was measured using the numeric pain rating scale, and functional disability was assessed using the neck disability index questionnaire. This study was performed in accordance with CONSORT guidelines. Results. On day 0, there were no significant differences in the age, pain, muscle endurance, and disability levels between the groups. After initiating the intervention, although there were improvements in both groups, there was a statistically significant improvement in muscle endurance, pain, and disability in subjects who received additional training with pressure biofeedback. Conclusions. Besides increasing muscle endurance, specific training of DCF muscles in addition to conventional exercises can improve neck pain and functional disability. These results should be further correlated clinically. A dedicated time for exercises at school could help prevent the development of NP in teachers. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03537300 May 24, 2018 (retrospectively registered).

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Ahmad H. Alghadir ◽  
Zaheen A. Iqbal

Background. Teaching is one of the professions where incidence and prevalence of neck pain is high. Prolonged use of computers, which has further increased due to online teaching amid pandemic, is known to cause neck pain and alter posture, while people with forward head posture (FHP) are prone to develop neck pain and related disability. Research has shown that impairment of deep cervical flexor (DCF) muscles leads to insufficiency in coordination, activation, overload, and poor support on cervical structures that further lead to development of neck pain and altered neck posture. The objective of this study was to see the effect of DCF muscle training using pressure biofeedback on pain and FHP in school teachers with neck pain. Methods. This observational study was conducted at medical center in school premises. Fifty-five school teachers aged between 25 and 40 years with experience of more than 5 years were invited to participate in this study. Subjects were divided in two groups. Both the groups received conventional exercises while in experimental group DCF muscle training using pressure biofeedback was given additionally. Pain and FHP were assessed using NPRS and cranio-vertebral angle using digital photograph technique, respectively, at baseline and end of four weeks of treatment. Results. Although pain and FHP improved in both the groups, mean improvement in both the measures was more in the group that also received DCF training using pressure biofeedback. Conclusions. This study shows that although pain and FHP improved following conventional exercises in school teachers with neck pain, mean improvement was more significant among those who received additional DCF muscle training using pressure biofeedback.


2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (03) ◽  
pp. 180-183
Author(s):  
Aatik Arsh ◽  
Sohail Idrees ◽  
Naveed Zafar ◽  
Brekhna Amin ◽  
Shah Ahad

Abstract Purpose Neck pain is common among school teachers due to regular involvement in teaching activities. The purpose of this study was to determine the neck Pain & disability among school teachers and its association with gender, body mass index, classes per week and method of lecture delivery. Methods A cross sectional study was conducted in Peshawar Pakistan from August 2017 to February 2018. A self administered questionnaire was used to collect demographic and teaching related information while Neck Disability Index (NDI) was used to assess neck disability. School teachers having at least 1 year teaching experience were included in the study. Teachers involved in administrative activities and/or having any systemic disease or co-morbidity were excluded. SPSS version 20 was used to analyze the data. Results Mean age of the participants was 31.99±6.93. There were 110 (39.6%) male and 168 (60.4%) female participants. Out of total participants, 99(35.6%) teachers reported that they had neck pain. Majority (n=188, 67.6%) of participants had no neck pain related disability while 63 (22.7%) had mild, 22 (7.9%) had moderate and 5 (1.8%) had severe disability. None of the participants had complete disability. Female gender was significantly associated (P-value<0.05) with neck pain and disability. Conclusion Prevalence of neck pain is high among school teachers. Female teachers and those who take more than 10 classes per week are more prone to developing neck pain.


Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingcai Zhang ◽  
Guoqing Du ◽  
Congying Liu ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
Jiayu Yang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Neck pain is a common clinical disease, which seriously affects people’s mental health and quality of life and results in loss of social productivity. Improving neck pain’s curative effect and reducing its recurrence rate are major medical problems. Shi’s manipulation therapy has unique advantages and technical features that aid in the diagnosis and treatment of neck pain. Compared with first-line non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment of neck pain, Shi’s cervical manipulation lacks the relevant research basis of therapeutic advantage, safety, and satisfaction for treating acute and subacute neck pain. Herein, we aim to confirm our hypothesis in a clinical trial that the safety and efficacy of Shi’s cervical manipulation will be more effective, safer, and more satisfactory than NSAIDs to treat acute and subacute neck pain. Methods In this multicenter, positive-controlled, randomized clinical trial, traditional analgesic drug (NSAID) is used to evaluate and show that Shi’s manipulation is more effective, safe, and satisfactory for treating acute and subacute neck pain. Overall, 240 subjects are randomly divided into the trial and control groups, with both groups treated by the corresponding main intervention method for up to 12 weeks. Clinical data will be collected before the intervention and immediately after the first treatment; at 3 days and 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the intervention; and at 26 and 52 weeks after treatment follow-up of clinical observation index data collection. The clinical observation indices are as follows: (1) cervical pain is the primary observation index, measured by Numerical Rating Scale. The secondary indices include the following: (2) cervical dysfunction index, measured by patient self-evaluation using cervical Neck Disability Index; (3) cervical activity measurement, measured by the cervical vertebra mobility measurement program of Android mobile phone system; (4) overall improvement, measured by patient self-evaluation with SF-36; and (5) satisfactory treatment, determined by patient self-evaluation. Discussion We will discuss whether Shi’s cervical manipulation has greater advantages in efficacy, safety, and satisfaction of acute and subacute neck pain than traditional NSAIDs, to provide a scientific basis for the dissemination and application of Shi’s cervical manipulation. Trial registration China Registered Clinical Trial Registration Center ChiCTR1900021371. Registered on 17 February 2019


Author(s):  
Divya Jain ◽  
Swapna Jawade ◽  
Neha Chitale

Background: "Text neck" is a term coined to describe the posture created by leaning forward for lengthy periods of time, such as when reading and texting on a cellphone which has been linked to stress injuries. Neck pain, upper back discomfort, shoulder pain, frequent headaches, and greater curvature of the spine are all dangerous indications of text neck. According to a survey, 35% of smartphone users suffer from text neck syndrome. People between the ages of 15 and 18 are more likely to have neck pain. This protocol has been created that describes the design of comparative study to evaluate effectiveness of progressive resisted exercise along with conventional exercise and conventional exercise program alone in text neck syndrome. Methods: The participants (n=80) will be recruited in the study suffering from text neck syndrome and meeting the inclusion criteria. Two groups will be formed such that patients in group A will be treated with conventional therapy and group B will be treated with progressive resisted exercise (PRE) along with conventional therapy. The protocol will cover 4 weeks of treatment. In the rehabilitation period, we will evaluate the pain intensity, strength of neck muscles and functional activity. Our outcome measures will be- Numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) and Neck disability index (NDI). Discussion: Efficacy of the intervention will be evaluated by analyzing the pain intensity by using Numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) and level of functional disability by using Neck disability index (NDI). The result of the study will significantly provide affirmation on either using combination therapy of PRE with conventional exercise or conventional exercise alone.


Author(s):  
Andrew Lalchhuanawma ◽  
Divya Sanghi

Background: The Neck Disability Index (NDI) is an important self-assessment tool used extensively worldwide, in clinical practice with implications into scientific research fields. It is used to assess the extent of pain and levels of functional disability associated with neck pain. The NDI consists of 10 items where each item was scored from a scale of 0 to 5 giving the maximum score possible to 50. Though proven to be a reliable instrument in the English-speaking population, the NDI has never been validated and culturally adapted in the Mizo language among the rural north-east Indian region where English is not spoken as means of communication. The aim is to translate and cross culturally adapt the NDI into Mizo tawng (official language of Mizoram) with the objective of establishing reliability and validity of the M-NDI in patients with non-specific neck pain.Methods: A total of 49 subjects participated voluntarily from the rural primary health care, Lunglei district, Mizoram. Subject having chronic non-specific neck pain lasting more than 3 months were included after taking a written formal consent.Results: The internal consistency determined by Cronbach alpha, and the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) using the test-retest reliability showed a good and an excellent reliability respectively (α=0.82, ICC=0.97, 95% CI= 0.95-0.98). Construct validity was determined between the variables-Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and NDI by Pearson’s correlation coefficient and found to have a good correlation r=0.89 and significant difference at p<0.001.Conclusions: The study results concluded the Mizo version of NDI to be easy to understand, reliable and valid instrument for measuring disability and functional limitations of daily activities in non-specific neck pain in the Mizo speaking population.


Spine ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 32 (26) ◽  
pp. 3047-3051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan J. M. Pool ◽  
Raymond W. J. G. Ostelo ◽  
Jan L. Hoving ◽  
Lex M. Bouter ◽  
Henrica C. W. de Vet

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 1260-1265
Author(s):  
Jyoti Kataria ◽  
Bijender Sindhu ◽  
Sonia Pawaria

Neck pain found to be most common musculoskeletal condition in office workers with 12-month prevalence. Mechanical neck pain can be classified into two categories in clinical studies mechanical neck pain which has patients without any identifiable anatomic cause and leaves patients having neurological dysfunctions cervicogenic headache and inflammatory disorders. Current research work has total of 150 participants out of which there were 100 females school teachers having mean age of 37.8 years(median 38 years) and 50 male school teachers having mean age 40 years (median 39 years). Participants included in the study were professionally active school teachers of primary, secondary and senior secondary. Scapula position and neck disability was examined as per keiblers lateral scapular slide test and Neck disability index. Total 150 teachers were included in the study 80 teachers having mechanical neck pain (study group) and 70 teachers not having mechanical neck pain (control group) statistically significant difference found in scapula position and neck disability. In the present research, it is found that there is statistically significant difference in scapula position protraction and upward rotation at three different levels as well as there are statistically significant changes observed in neck disability. 


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Stephen ◽  
Corlia Brandt ◽  
Benita Olivier

Purpose: People with neck pain are likely to have negative respiratory findings. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between neck pain and dysfunctional breathing and to examine their relationship to stress. Method: This cross-sectional study included 49 participants with neck pain and 49 age- and sex-matched controls. We measured neck pain using the numeric rating scale (NRS); neck disability using the Neck Disability Index (NDI); dysfunctional breathing using the Nijmegen Questionnaire (NQ), Self-Evaluation of Breathing Questionnaire (SEBQ), breath hold time, and respiratory rate (RR); and stress using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Results:Participants with neck pain scored higher on the NQ ( p < 0.001) and the SEBQ ( p < 0.001) than controls. NQ and SEBQ scores correlated moderately with NDI scores ( r > 0.50; 95% CI: 0.25, 0.68 and 0.33, 0.73, respectively) and PSS scores ( r > 0.50; 95% CI: 0.29, 0.78 and 0.31, 0.73, respectively). SEBQ scores showed a fair correlation with NRS scores and RR a fair correlation with NDI scores. Conclusions: Participants with neck pain had more dysfunctional breathing symptoms than participants without neck pain, and dysfunctional breathing was correlated with increased neck disability and increased stress. The NQ and SEBQ can be useful in assessing dysfunctional breathing in patients with neck pain.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 1923-1926
Author(s):  
Hafsah Arshad ◽  
Hafsah Gul Khattak ◽  
Kinza Anwar ◽  
Hazrat Bilal

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain disorders and related factors among female school teachers of Peshawar. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted from February 2019 to July 2019 among primary and secondary female school teachers (n=289) in Peshawar. Data was collected from using semi-structured questionnaire. Outcome measures were based on modified version of Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire (NMQ) and Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Descriptive statistics was used to summarize qualitative variables in the form of frequencies and percentages. Mean and standard deviation was calculated for quantitative variables. Chi-square test was used to find association. The significant P value was <0.05. Results: Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain disorders was 82.7%. The overall mean age of sample was 37.5±8.47. Most common sites of pain were low back 60.2% followed by neck pain 50.2%, ankle pain 48.4% and shoulder pain 44.3%. Factors that showed significant relationship were long time standing (p=0.001), long time sitting (p=0.039), checking copy/paper marking (p value 0.023) and uncomfortable work chair/table (p = 0.012). Conclusion: Female school teachers showed high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain disorders, low back was the most common site for pain followed by ankle and shoulder. Risk factors associated with pain were long time standing, long time sitting, checking copy/paper marking and uncomfortable work chair/table. Keywords: Musculoskeletal disorder, ergonomics, Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire, low back pain, neck pain.


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