title: Chronic neck pain and exercise interventions: frequency, intensity, time, and type principle.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the most effective components in an active exercise physiotherapy treatment intervention for chronic neck pain based on the frequency, intensity, time, and type (FITT) exercise method of tailoring physical activity recommendations to the individual needs and goals of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Databases, including the Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Biomedical Reference Collection, and Academic Search Premier, were searched for relevant articles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative design studies that included active exercise as part of a multimodal or stand-alone approach were selected. Only studies scoring ≥6 on the Physiotherapy Evidence Database Scale were included in the review because this reflected a good level of evidence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study methodologies and relevant outcome measures, including isometric strength, Neck Disability Index scores, and pain scores, were extracted from relevant articles and grouped together for appraisal and synthesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Evidence from selected articles was synthesized according to the FITT exercise principal to determine the most effective exercise type, frequency, and intensity in the treatment of chronic neck pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physiotherapy interventions using a multimodal approach appear to produce more beneficial outcomes in terms of increased strength, improved function, and health-related quality of life and reduced pain scores. Active strengthening exercises appear to be beneficial for all of these outcomes; the inclusion of additional stretching and aerobic exercise components appear to enhance the benefits of an exercise intervention.
authors: Department of Clinical Therapies, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. Electronic address: Cliona.ORiordan@ul.ie.
authors: Cliona
authors: C
authors: O'Riordan
authors: Department of Clinical Therapies, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: Clifford
authors: Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors: Pepijn
authors: P
authors: Van De Ven
authors: Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Nelson
mesh_terms: D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D053580:Muscle Strength; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: Exercise; Neck pain; Physical therapy modalities; Rehabilitation