The efficiency of endurance exercises at the acute phase of patients with non specific neck pain

Aim and Hypothesis: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of cervical deep flexor muscle endurance exercises of patients with non specific neck pain at acute phase.Methods: Totally 51 patients with mean age 51.70 ± 9.31 were divided into two groups as Control (n=27) and Endurance Exercises (n=24) Groups. SDFK endurance (Clinical Endurance Test), head - neck posture (Phographical Analyses), cervical range of motion (Universal Goniometer), cervical performance level (Cervial Performance Tests) and pain-disability levels (Neck Pain and Disability Index) of all patients were assessed. All assesments were performed at the beginning and repeated 12 weeks later.Results: Initially two groups were hemogenenous in terms of demographic features and cervical deep flexor muscle endurance (p>0.05). While an increase was reported in cervical deep flexor muscle endurance values in comparison to beginning values at the end of 12 weeks in both control and endurance exercise group, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. At the end of 12 weeks, while head tilt angle of endurance exercise group was decreased significantly compared to control group, no significant differences was found between groups in terms of other postural parameters. Cervical performance (p<0.05) and joint range of motion (p<0.05) Values of patients in both two groups increased while neck pain and disability decreased (p<0.05).Conclusion: It was revealed that to initiate an exercises program at the acute phase of non specific neck pain which has no evidence in the literature yet, was effective on alleviation of symptoms by this study. It was reported that head anterior tilt angle decreased by using cervical deep flexor muscle endurance training. In this study, it is recommended that early initiation of exercise programs at the early stage and cervical deep flexor muscle endurance training at the treatment of non specific neck pain.