title: A randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of exercise for patients with chronic neck pain.
abstract: METHODS
  A randomized controlled trial with single-blind outcome assessments.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of a neck exercise program in patients with chronic neck pain.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The effect of exercise for patients with chronic neck pain has been investigated in a number of studies. The efficacy is, however, questionable.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 145 patients were randomly allocated into an exercise (n = 67) and a nonexercise (control) group (n = 78). Patients in the control group were given infrared irradiation and neck care advice. In addition to infrared irradiation and advice, patients in the exercise group had undergone an exercise program with activation of the deep neck muscles and dynamic strengthening of the neck muscles for 6 weeks. Subjective pain and disability and isometric neck muscle strength were measured at baseline, 6 weeks, and 6 months. Analysis was by intention-to-treat.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At week 6, the exercise group had a significantly better improvement in disability score (P = 0.03), subjective report of pain (P = 0.01), and in isometric neck muscle strength (P = 0.57-0.00) in most of the directions than the control group. However, significant differences between the two groups were found only in the subjective report of pain and patient satisfaction at the 6-month follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At week 6, patients with chronic neck pain can benefit from the neck exercise program with significant improvement in disability, pain, and isometric neck muscle strength in different directions. However, the effect of exercise was less favorable at 6 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong. rstchiu@polyu.edu.hk
authors.forename: Thomas T W
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Tai-Hing
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hedley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012651:Self Medication; D018582:Sick Leave; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics