Traditional physical therapy exercises combined with sensorimotor training: The effects on clinical outcomes for chronic neck pain in a double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the effects of combining traditional physical therapy exercises with sensorimotor training on joint position sense, pain, muscle endurance, balance and disability in patients with chronic, non-specific neck pain.

DESIGN

Double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

SUBJECTS

A total of 53 patients with chronic non-specific neck pain were randomized to either traditional or combined exercise groups.

INTERVENTIONS

All patients received 12 sessions of supervised intervention 3 times per week. The traditional group performed traditional exercises, and the combined exercise group performed sensorimotor training in addition to traditional exercises.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Joint position sense, pain, neck flexor muscle endurance test, 10 Meter Walk Test, step test, and the Neck Disability Index.

RESULTS

The combined exercise group showed significantly greater improvement compared to the traditional group in joint position sense during extension, flexion, right rotation, the 10 m walk test with head turn, and the step test. Pain intensity, muscle endurance, and disability improved in both groups. Additionally, there was a higher degree of effect on muscle endurance in the combined exercise group compared to a moderate effect in the traditional group.

CONCLUSIONS

A combination of sensorimotor training with traditional physical therapy exercises could be more effective than traditional exercises alone in improving joint position sense, endurance, dynamic balance and walking speed.