Effect of aerobic exercise added to isometric exercise on pain, functionality and neck awareness in housewives with chronic neck pain

​This randomized controlled experimental study aimed to investigate the effects of adding aerobic exercise to isometric exercise on pain, neck awareness, and functionality in housewives with chronic neck pain. The study included 26 volunteer housewives aged 20-60 living in Istanbul who had been experiencing neck pain for at least 3 months. The participants were randomly divided into experimental (n=13) and control (n=13) groups. Both groups were instructed to perform neck isometric exercises three times a day for 10 repetitions. Additionally, the experimental group received aerobic exercise in the form of a 30-minute walk, three days a week, at a modified BORG scale level of 3-4. Before and after the treatment, the severity of participants' neck pain (VAS) and neck joint range of motion (goniometer) were measured and recorded. Functionality and neck awareness were evaluated using the Neck Disability Index, Bournemouth Neck Scale, and Fremantle Neck Awareness Questionnaire (FBFA). The results indicated significant improvements in neck pain, functionality, and neck awareness in both the control and experimental groups after the intervention (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the groups for all parameters except for the right-left lateral flexion range of motion. A noteworthy improvement in right and left lateral flexion range of motion was observed in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.02). The study concluded that combining aerobic exercise with isometric exercise has a positive impact on neck lateral flexion values.