Effects of spinal stabilization exercises delivered using telerehabilitation on outcomes in patients with chronic neck pain: a randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT

Background

When spinal stabilization exercises (SSE) are performed regularly, may provide benefits on outcome measures in chronic nonspecific neck pain (CNNP) patients. The pandemic has made it difficult for CNNP patients to access regular physiotherapy-exercise services. This study aims to compare telerehabilitation (TR) with face-to-face rehabilitation in CNNP.

Methods

Neck Functional Capacity Evaluation Test (NFCET) results were the primary outcomes. Pain intensity (PI), disability, awareness, neck muscles architecture, andexercise satisfaction were the secondary outcomes. Patients were randomized into the TR group (TRG) (n = 15) and the control group (CG) (n = 16). Patients performed SSE 3 days a week, for 8 weeks. The TRG was instructed remotely while the CG was instructed in the clinic.

Results

After 8 weeks in both groups, NFCET values and neck awareness increased (p < 0.05), PI and disability decreased (p < 0.05).      Muscle architecture improved in both groups (p < 0.05), except for the Right Sternocleidomastoideus in both groups and the Right Upper-Trapezius in TRG (p > 0.05). There was no difference between the groups for all variables and exercise satisfaction(p > 0.05).

Conclusion

SSE for CNNP, whether supervised by therapists in the clinic or by telerehabilitation, was equally effective.

The Clinical Trial Number

NCT04691024

KEYWORDS:

• Disability
• exercise
• functional capacity level
• muscle architecture
• neck pain
• telerehabilitation

Reviewer Disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Declaration of Interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Author Contributions

D Onan, P Martelletti and O Ulger are responsible for the conception and design and/or the analysis and interpretation of the data as well as the drafting of the paper or revising it critically for intellectual content. D Onan, O Ulger and P Martelletti all give final approval of the version to be published and all authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/14737175.2023.2192870

Additional information

Funding

This manuscript has not been funded.