Isolated Activation of Deep Cervical Flexor Muscles to Improve the Functional Outcome of Subjects with Cervical Dysfunction

the chronic neck pain is the major and second most common musculo-skeletal problems among the middle-aged people. Recurrent complaint of pain and discomfort with remission is the major issues among the patients which lead to lesser productivity of routine functional activity and even job-oriented task. The purpose of the study was to determine whether training of deep cervical flexor muscles with stretching of overactive muscles has any significant advantage over the conventional training for endurance and functional limitations experienced by the patients with chronic neck pain.

30 participants aged 25–45 years with complaint of neck pain for more than 3 months and having poor deep cervical flexor endurance.

A Pre-test, Post-test experimental group design was used in which experimental group has received Isolated activation of deep cervical flexors followed by upper limb activity along with stretching of overactive muscles while the control group received conventional exercise only. Measurements of dependent variables were taken at baseline and after 6 weeks of training. Deep cervical flexor muscles endurance was assessed using Dial-type sphygmomanometer and functional outcome was assessed using Patient specific functional scale.

The data analysis revealed that there was significant improvement in deep cervical flexor endurance and functional outcome in both the groups and the results were better in the experimental group.

Isolated training of deep cervical flexors gave a more beneficial result than the conventional exercise.