Investigation of the effectiveness of rocabado exercises applied in addition to stabilization exercises in individuals with chronic neck pain

Chronic neck pain (CNP) is known as neck pain that lasts longer than 3 months and has a long recovery period. Although the neurophysiological, anatomical and biomechanical relationship between the jaw joint and neck pain is known in the literature, there are very few studies showing the effect of jaw exercises in CNP. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of Rocabado exercises in addition to cervical stabilisation exercises in patients with CNP. 66 patients with CNP were included in this study. 4 patients were excluded because they were not eligible for the study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups as Rocabado (n:31) and Control (n:31) groups. The Rocabado Group (RG) received Rocabado exercises in addition to cervical stabilization exercises and the Control Group (CG) received only cervical stabilization exercises. The treatment was applied for 4 weeks, 3 days a week. Participants before and after treatment pain severity (Visual Analog Scale), range of motion, proprioception (Cervical Joint Position Error Test), pain threshold and tolerance (digital algometer), balance (Biodex Balance Device), disability (Neck Disability Index), posture (New York Posture Analysis), muscle endurance, and isometric muscle strength (hand dynamometer) were evaluated. A statistically significant improvement was observed in pain severity, range of motion, cervical proprioception, pain threshold and pain tolerance, body balance, disability, posture, cervical muscle endurance and cervical muscle strength in both groups after treatment (p<0.05). When the pre and post-treatment changes between the groups were examined, a significant difference was found in favour of RG in terms of cervical proprioception, body balance, pain threshold and pain tolerance (p<0.05). According to the results of the study, Rocabado exercises applied in addition to cervical stabilization exercises in the treatment of patients with CNP are effective on cervical proprioception, body balance, pain threshold and pain tolerance.