Effect of Pressure biofeedback training on deep cervical flexors endurance in patients with mechanical neck pain: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: To compare the effects of Cranio cervical flexion training with and without pressure biofeedback on deep cervical muscular endurance in patients with mechanical chronic neck pain.

Methods: A randomized control trial was conducted at Railway General Hospital Rawalpindi, from May to December 2019. It consisted of thirty participants with the age ranging from 25 to 40 years, and having chronic mechanical neck pain. The participants were randomly allocated into two groups Group-A received Craniocervical flexion training with pressure biofeedback and Group-B received Craniocervical flexion training without pressure biofeedback. The intervention was applied for four weeks (3 sessions per week). Assessments were taken at Pre, Post intervention and after six weeks of follow up. Data analysis was done using SPSS-21 version.

Results: The mean age of Group-A and Group-B was 29.40±3.08 and 31.33±4.95 respectively. Between-group analyses has shown statistically and clinically significant improvement in Group-A regarding deep neck muscles endurance (p<0.05). Whereas within group analysis of both groups A & B showed a statistical and clinically significant difference (p=0.00) for deep neck muscles endurance.

Conclusions: Cranio-cervical flexion training with Pressure Biofeedback has proven to be more effective in improving endurance of deep cervical flexors in patients with mechanical neck pain.