Investigation of the effects ofoculomotor exercises and hands-onprotocol in patients with non-specificneck pain

This study evaluated the effectiveness of adding oculomotor techniques and manual therapies to general exercise protocols in individuals with non-specific chronic neck pain (NSCNP). Thirty-eight volunteers (22 females, 16 males; mean age 35.92 ± 12.18 years) who applied to a private clinic between January 2024 and June 2024 and were diagnosed as NSCNP by a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician were included in the study. The sociodemographic characteristics of the participants were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Pain was assessed with a visual analog scale, active and passive joint motion angles were measured with a goniometer, and joint position sense was assessed with a laser pointer. Participants completed the TAMPA Kinesiophobia Scale for kinesiophobia assessment and the Bournemouth Neck Pain Disability Questionnaire for neck pain disability assessment. Participants were randomly divided into two groups using a computer-based program: Routine Exercise Group (REP) (n=19) who applied for a routine exercise program, and Oculomotor and Hands-on Group (OHP) who received oculomotor exercises and myofascial release techniques in addition to a routine exercise program. All participants participated in the patient education program, and the REP group (n=19), called the control group, applied the routine exercise program, and the OHP group (n=19), called the experimental group, applied oculomotor exercises and myofascial release techniques in addition to a routine exercise program. The treatment lasted for six weeks and consisted of three sessions per week. On the four days when no sessions were performed, the control group applied the routine exercise protocol as home exercise; the experimental group applied both the routine exercise protocol and the oculomotor exercise protocol at home. In the sixth week, statistically significant improvements were observed in VAS, ROM, JPE test, TAMPA, and Bournemouth measurement values in both groups (p<0.05). Greater improvements were observed in flexion, extension, and passive left rotation angles in the OHP group, a significant increase was obtained in active lateral flexion in the REP group. OHP group showed more improvement that Joint Position Error Test in Lateral Flexion. The Bournemouth Questionnaire results revealed that the OHP group showed statistically greater improvement in the sixth week compared to the first week (p<0.05). We recommend that oculomotor exercises and manual therapies be added to the treatment protocol in the management of neck pain in individuals with NSCNP. Keywords: neck, non-specific neck pain, exercise, oculomotor exercises, myofascial release