EFFECTIVENESS OF STRETCHING AND MOBILIZATION TECHNIQUE TO REDUCE PAIN AND IMPROVE FUNCTIONAL STATUS IN NON SPECIFIC NECK PAIN

Abstract

Neck pain is most common in general population and is mostly due to poor posture which may become worse as it becomes chronic. Manipulation, education to correct posture and exercise regime are effective to treat pain. There is insufficient evidence regarding the effectiveness of stretching compared to sustain natural apophyseal glide technique (SNAGs) in nonspecific neck pain. Thus aim of the present is to compare the effectiveness of sustained stretching with SNAGs to reduce pain, improve cervical ranges and functional status in patients of nonspecific neck pain. Methods: Quasi experimental study design was used to compare the outcomes. 40 patients were recruited through sample of convenience from Fatima memorial hospital, Lahore. Patients were taken their consent to participate in study and were invited for treatment at Physiotherapy Department. Subjects with non-specific neck pain meeting the predetermined inclusion & exclusion criteria were divided into two groups using computer generated random number table method. Pre assessment was done using VAS & NDI as subjective measurements and cervical AROM as objective measurements. Subjects in one group were treated with stretching of cervical muscles and the other were treated with sustained natural apophyseal glide (SNAGs). Each subject were received a total 06 treatment sessions, with 02 treatment sessions per week. Post treatment readings for VAS, NDI and cervical AROM will be recorded after the end of 2nd, 4th and 6th treatment session. Recorded values were analyzed for any change using SPSS version 23. Results: The comparison of VAS score in the stretching group shows the mean difference from the pretreatment value to final value at session VI was 5.05 (P value < 0.05),and in the mobilization group was 4.75(P value < 0.05), showing that both mobilization and stretching are effective in reducing pain. Comparison of NDI score in the stretching group shows that the mean difference from the pretreatment value to final value at session VI was 20.05 (P value < 0.05), and in mobilization group it was 37.50(P value < 0.05), showing that mobilization is more effective in improving the functional status. The mean difference from the pretreatment value to final value at session VI for cervical ranges shows that stretching is statistically effective in improving all ranges of cervical spine but significantly not the cervical rotation, while mobilization is statistically significant in improving all ranges of cervical spine. Conclusion: Hence the results of this study conclude that both stretching and mobilization are significantly effective (p <0.05) in reducing the pain, mobilization is more effective in improving functional status and cervical ranges as compare to stretching in nonspecific neck pain.