The effects of stabilization exercises using a sling and stretching on the range of motion and cervical alignment of straight neck patients

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to assess how stretching exercise training and sling exercise training for stabilization influences the cervical spine angles and cervical range of motion of straight neck patients. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty straight neck patients were selected as subjects and they were randomly divided into two groups, the stretching and sling stabilization exercise groups which 60 minutes of exercise three times a week for 6weeks. All the subjects in each of the two respective study groups received an X-ray and had their cervical range of motion measured, both before and after the exercise. [Results] When differences in the cervical spine angle between the pre- and the post-test were checked, it was found that only the stretching exercise group showed statistically significant decreases in the craniovertebral angle and the cranial rotation angle. When differences in the range of motion between pre- and post-test were checked, the sling stabilization exercise group showed a significant change in flexion, right rotation, left lateral bending, right lateral bending, and the stretching exercise group showed a significant change in left rotation, left lateral bending, and right lateral bending. [Conclusion] These results indicate that both types of exercises are effective at improving the cervical range of motion of straight neck patients, and that the stretching exercise was more effective than the sling stabilization exercise at improving cervical spine angles.

The efficacy of sling exercise combined with extracorporeal shock wave on office workers with chronic neck pain

“…In addition, the combination of sling exercise and stretching improved cervical ROM in patients with cervical kyphosis, and the same effect was observed in patients with chronic neck pain. [32] It is thought that the combination of each treatment induces relaxation by improving the soft tissue's structural changes and the connective tissue's density. [42] However, this study has several limitations.…”

“…[31] In addition, the results of this study were consistent with those of previous studies showing that sling exercise based on head-neck bending was effective for CVA in patients with chronic neck pain. [32] These results are thought to be effective in stabilizing the spine because the movement of other segments occurs after the trunk is first stabilized during the sling exercise. In addition, closed-chain exercise is believed to provide more feedback on proprioception and kinesthesia.…”

Impact of Movement Control Training Using a Laser Device on the Neck Pain and Movement of Patients with Cervicogenic Headache: A Pilot Study

“…The results in this study revealed that the intra-group variation in the ROM was significant across all variables for the intervention group that underwent movement control training, while only the flexion and left and right rotation showed a significant change for the control group, which underwent self-stretching. In previous studies on FHP patients based on stretching, significant changes were shown solely by the left rotation and the left and right side bending, and it was reported that the stretching led to a significant improvement in the ROM after at least four weeks and that long-term use of stretching would lead to more effective results in terms of the flexibility of soft tissues [55,56]. The increase in the ROM for certain control group participants in this study is presumed to be due to the short (four-week) intervention that limited the changes in the viscoelasticity of soft tissues.…”

Is Cervical Stabilization Exercise Immediately Effective in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain and Upper Cervical Spine Dysfunction? Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Loss in cervical ROM in the exercise group is a finding that has not been described until now in any other study on cervical exercise undertaken on patients with chronic neck pain. Other studies that conducted interventions based on MT + E or exercise on deep flexor muscles in an isolated way yielded improvements or no changes in cervical ROM; however, none yielded decreases [ 36 ].…”