Some neck pain patients have a loss of their normal curve in the neck. This study shows that a home exercise program can help improve the curve in the neck and reduce pain. To do the exercise: Sit in an upright position and place hands behind the head. Try to push the head backward while resisting backward motion with the hands. Hold for 30 seconds, and do this 3 times per day. ~ Dr. Broussard
Isometric Exercise for the Cervical Extensors Can Help Restore Physiological Lordosis and Reduce Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 96(9):621–626, SEP 2017
DOI: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000000698 , ,
PMID: 28118272
Issn Print: 0894-9115
Publication Date: 2017/09/01
Mahmut Alpayci
Abstract
Objective
The aim of this study was to investigate whether isometric neck extension exercise restores physiological cervical lordosis and reduces pain.
Design
Sixty-five patients with loss of cervical lordosis were randomly assigned to exercise (27 women, 7 men; mean age, 32.82 ± 8.83 yrs) and control (26 women, 5 men; mean age, 33.48 ± 9.67 yrs) groups. Both groups received nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for 10 days. The exercise group received additional therapy as a home exercise program, which consisted of isometric neck extension for 3 mos. Neck pain severity and cervical lordosis were measured at baseline and at 3 mos after baseline.
Results
Compared with baseline levels, cervical lordosis angle was significantly improved in the exercise group (P < 0.001) but not in the control group (P = 0.371) at the end of 3 mos. Moreover, the exercise group was significantly superior to the control group considering the number of patients in whom cervical lordosis angle returned to physiological conditions (85.2% vs. 22.5%; P < 0.001). At the end of 3 mos, pain intensity was significantly reduced in both groups compared with baseline levels (for all, P < 0.001). Nevertheless, considering the change from baseline to month 3, the reduction in pain was about twice in the exercise group compared with the control group (P < 0.001).
Conclusions
Isometric neck extension exercise improves cervical lordosis and pain.