Effects of motor control combined with cervicothoracic spine self-mobilization on chronic non-specific neck pain

Abstract

To investigate the effects of motor control training and cervicothoracic spine self-mobilization with chronic non-specific neck pain. Thirty participants with chronic non-specific neck pain were randomly divided into motor control, synergistic cervical spine self-mobilization combined with motor control, and synergistic cervicothoracic spine self-mobilization combined with motor control groups. Neck pain, cervical range of motion, neck disability, strength and endurance of deep cervical flexors and quality of life were assessed before and after the 6-week training period. After the intervention, pain, strength and endurance of the deep cervical flexors and neck disability significantly improved in three groups (p < 0.05), cervical extension range of motion and quality of life significantly improved in the two synergistic self-mobilization groups (p < 0.05). Intergroup comparisons showed that the effect size was larger for the two synergistic self-mobilization groups than the motor control group (d = 1.27–1.46) and that the synergistic cervicothoracic self-mobilization had a larger effect size than the other two groups for reducing pain and increasing cervical rotational motion (d = 0.81–1.66) and a moderately larger effect size than the other two groups for dysfunction and quality of life physical function (d = 0.46–1.09). Motor control can enhance strength and endurance of deep cervical flexors, while self-mobilization can improve cervical extension range of motion. Combined with thoracic mobilization, it can further improve lateral flexion and rotation range of motion, thereby reducing pain and dysfunction and improving quality of life.