Effectiveness of motor i̇magery on functionality and quality of life in young adults with chronic non-spesific neck pain

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of motor imagery on functionality and quality of life in young adults with chronic non-spesific neck pain. Method: Fourty young adults with non-spesific chronic neck pain randomly allocated into two groups as exercise group (Group I) (n=20), motor imagery and exercise group (Group II) (n=20). All assesment were applicated two times before and after program. In assesment, Data form for demographic data, Visual Analog Scala for pain, for disability Neck Disability İndex, Pittsburg Sleep Quality İndex for sleep quality, Beck Anxiety İnventories for anxiety, Beck Depression İnventories for depression, Movement İmagery Questionnaire for imagery, Short Form-36 Health Survey for quality of life were used. Also, neck motion analysis, deep sensation assessment, pain thershold and muscle endurance tests were applied. The exercise program was carried out for five days/week, four weeks for two groups. For group II, motor imagery program was applied maximum 15 minutes in addition to exercise. Results: Both groups were homogenized in terms of demographic characteristics such as age, height, weight. Among the sub-parameters of the quality of life, physical function (p=0.0123), social function (p=0.001) and mental health (p<0.001) were increased after training for group II. There were only statistically significant differences in neck extensor muscle strength in Group II after exercise training (p<0.05) Conclusion: Motor imagery increase significantly neck extansor muscle endurance which was affected about patients with neck pain, in the short term. İn addition, motor imagery training have influenced positively in functionality, imagery ability and quality of life. Key Words: Neck pain, Motor imagery, Quality of life