Efficiency of three Different Physiotherapy Programs for Improving the Quality of Life in Individuals with Cervical Spine Pain

Abstract

Background. Neck pain is a global health disorder that greatly affects a person’s quality of life. Due to differently assessed methodologies, there is a lack of unanimous opinion among researchers which physiotherapy methodology is the most effective in reducing cervical spine pain, so we have chosen to compare three different physiotherapy programs.The aim of the study is to analyse the impact of different physiotherapy programs on the quality of life of individuals with neck pain.Methodology of the research. The study included 55 subjects who complained of non-specific chronic neck pain. The subjects were divided into four groups: the first (n = 15), who were initially subjected to neck and shoulder massage, followed by neck and shoulder stretching and strengthening exercises (massage and exercises), the second (n = 15) – to the application of the neck and shoulder stretching and strengthening exercises followed by neck and shoulder massage (exercises and massage), the third (n = 13) – only to kinesiological taping (KIN taping), and the fourth (n = 12) – control group with no physiotherapy intervention. Before and after the interventions, the quality of life of the subjects was assessed with the index of neck disability (NDI), the quality of sleep (the Pittsburgh sleep quality index), and fatigue was also evaluated.Results. Compared to the control group, all groups had statistically significant decreased mean of neck disability index (NDI), fatigue, and improved sleep quality.Conclusions. 1. Subjects who had neck and shoulder massage first followed by neck and shoulder stretching and strengthening exercises, had a statistically significant improvement in their quality of life. 2. Subjects who had neck and shoulder stretching and strengthening exercises first followed by neck and shoulder massage, significantly improved their quality of life. 3. Subjects who applied only kinesiological taping had a statistically significant improvement in the quality of life.

Keywords: neck pain, massage, kinesiotaping, exercises, quality of life.