Effectiveness of McKenzie Neck Exercise Combined with Conventional Physical Therapy versus Conventional Physical Therapy Alone in Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract
Background: Neck pain is a common problem, commonly associated with poor posture, mechanical stress or trauma. It is often nonspecific, i.e. no underlying disease is detected. Neck pain may interfere with the normal life and result in a chronic ache. The goal of the effective treatments, the physical therapy and exercises, including McKenzie technique, is to relieve pain and restore mobility.
Objective: To identify the superior outcome between McKenzie exercises versus conventional physiotherapy versus conventional physical therapy on its own in reducing pain and enhancing functionality and cervical range of motion in patients with persistent nonspecific neck pain.
Methodology: The present study was designed as a randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in the Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. A total of 26 participants were included, with sample size calculated using G*Power software (effect size = 1.0, power = 80%, α = 0.05). Participants were randomly allocated into control and experimental groups using a lottery. The Control group participants were given conventional physiotherapy only, whereas the experimental group received conventional physiotherapy with the addition of the McKenzie exercise. The numerical pain rating scale was used for pain. The Neck Functional Disability Scale was used for functional disability, and cervical ranges were measured through a goniometer
Results: The mean age of the participants was 43.35 ± 10.19 years. Male participants were 16 (61.5 %) and female participants were 10 (38.5 %). There were statistically significant differences in the NPRS score (p = 0.047), CNFDS score (p = 0.042), cervical flexion range (p = 0.046), cervical extension range (p = 0.035), cervical left rotation range (p = 0.025), cervical right rotation range (p = 0.051), cervical left lateral flexion range (p = 0.040) and cervical right lateral flexion range (p = 0.031) between control and experimental groups.
Conclusion: This study revealed that McKenzie exercises, along with conventional physiotherapy, are more effective at decreasing neck pain, and improving functionality, and cervical ROM than conventional physiotherapy alone in the context of chronic nonspecific neck pain. This advantage can be explained by the fact that the McKenzie method focuses on recurrent end-range movements and postural correction that assist in decreasing mechanical stress, centralizing pain, and increasing spinal mobility via active patient interaction.
Keywords: Chronic Non-specific neck pain, Copenhagen neck functional disability scale,
McKenzie Exercise, NPRS.
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