Comparison of the effects of pilates and scapula mobilization exercises on posture, sleep, and quality of life in persons with neck pain

The aim of the study is to examine how pilates exercises alone or in combination with scapular mobilization exercises affect pain, posture, sleep and quality of life in people with neck pain. The study included 20 volunteers(20F;34,05±8,50 years) with chronic mechanical neck pain who frequently exercised at the Simyfit pilates studio (2 or more times per week) and were advised to exercise by a doctor. Between May 2022 and October 2022, our study was conducted in the Simyfit Pilates Studio in Istanbul Ataşehir. The patients were randomly divided into the Experimental Group (EG) (n=10) and the Control Group (CG) (n=10). Individual modified pilates sessions for each participant lasted for six weeks, consisting of 12 sessions, two sessions each week. Evaluations were recorded before starting exercise sessions and after completing 12 sessions. Pain, disability, sleep quality and quality of life were assessed by respectively Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the SF-12 Quality of Life Assessment Questionnaire. New York Posture Rating System (NYPRS) was used to determine the posture of participants. The primary results of this study comparing two groups, EG and CG, indicated similar improvement in VAS, NDI, NYPRS and PSQI (respectively p>0.05, p>0.05, p>0.05, p>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference found between EG and CG in the mental component of the quality of life assessment(MCS-12)(p<0.05). The findings of the study reported improvement in VAS, NDI NYPRS, PSQI and MCS-12 in EG (respectively p=0.00, p=0.01, p=0.00, p=0.001, p=0.023). The findings indicated improvement in VAS, NDI NYPRS, PSQI and physical component of the quality of life assessment(PCS-12) in CG (respectively p=0.00, p=0.01, p=0.00, p=0.001, p=0.047).