Comparative Study Of Cervical Mobilization And Chin Tuck Exercises In Managing Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain In Young Adults
Keywords:
Neck pain, cervical mobilization, college studentsAbstract
Background and Objectives: Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain (CNSNP) is a common musculoskeletal condition, particularly among college students, and has become increasingly prevalent due to poor posture and muscular imbalances associated with prolonged screen time and sedentary habits. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of cervical mobilization and active chin tuck exercises with isotonics as therapeutic interventions for managing CNSNP in young adults.
Methodology: A total of 39 college students aged 18 to 25 years with CNSNP were recruited for the study. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups using a simple random lottery method:
Group A (n = 13): Cervical mobilization combined with conventional therapy
Group B (n = 13): Active chin tuck with isotonics combined with conventional therapy
Group C (n = 13): Conventional therapy alone
The intervention lasted for six weeks, with three treatment sessions per week. Outcomes were assessed both before and after the intervention using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and the Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability Scale (CNFDS).
Results: All three groups showed statistically significant improvements in NPRS and CNFDS scores from pre- to post-treatment (p < 0.01).Between-group analysis revealed a significant difference in pain intensity (NPRS) with a p-value of 0.001, and a significant difference in functional disability (CNFDS) scores with a p-value of 0.007.These results indicate that while all groups experienced improvement, the extent varied depending on the intervention.
Conclusion: Both cervical mobilization and active chin tuck with isotonics proved to be effective treatment options for managing chronic non-specific neck pain. However, cervical mobilization was more effective, particularly in reducing pain intensity and improving functional disability. While both interventions led to improvements in cervical function, cervical mobilization demonstrated superior outcomes in terms of pain relief.
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