Effect of Kinetic Control Training and McKenzie's Approach on Pain and Mobility in Cervical Derangement Syndrome: A Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND

Cervical derangement syndrome (CDS), a form of mechanical neck pain, arises from poor posture, repetitive stress, and segmental dysfunction, resulting in discomfort, restricted cervical mobility, and reduced functional capacity. The study focuses on changes associated with CDS, particularly range of motion (ROM), pain, and functional disability. The study aims to find the effect of kinetic control training (KCT) and the McKenzie approach on CDS. The McKenzie approach emphasizes symptom centralization through repeated directional movements, while KCT focuses on restoring movement efficiency via motor control retraining. This study compares their effectiveness in managing CDS.

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to determine the effect of KCT and the McKenzie approach on pain, functional disability, and ROM in individuals suffering from CDS.

METHODS

A comparative study was conducted involving 112 participants diagnosed with CDS. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups using the envelope method. Group A (McKenzie) and Group B (KCT), with 56 participants in each group initially. Following the exclusion of six participants, the final sample consisted of 53 participants in Group A and 53 in Group B. Both groups received baseline conventional therapy followed by six weeks of their respective interventions. Pre- and post-intervention outcome measures included the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), and cervical ROM. Statistical analysis was conducted using paired and unpaired t-tests via IBM SPSS Statistics, version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY).

RESULTS

The findings demonstrated statistically significant enhancements in pain intensity, functional capacity, and cervical ROM in both groups. But Group B (KCT) demonstrated superior outcomes (p < 0.0001). In Group B (activity), VAS, NDI, and ROM improved significantly in all directions compared to Group A (McKenzie).

CONCLUSION

The study concluded that a six-week intervention of KCT is more effective than the McKenzie approach in reducing pain and enhancing functional capacity and cervical mobility in individuals with CDS.