title: Effects of neck coordination exercise on sensorimotor function in chronic neck pain: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of neck coordination exercise on sensorimotor function in women with neck pain compared with best-available treatment and sham treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observer-blinded randomized controlled trial with short-term and 6-month follow-ups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with chronic non-specific neck pain were randomized to 3 groups: neck coordination exercise with a novel training device; strength training for the neck and shoulders; or massage. Each group had 36 participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention period was 11 weeks with 22 individually supervised sessions. Primary outcomes were postural sway measures and precision of goal-directed arm movements. Secondary outcomes were range of motion for the neck, peak speed of axial rotation, and neck pain. A repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted separately on the primary outcomes for the short-term and 6-month evaluations and on the sensorimotor secondary outcomes for the 6-month effect. The 6-month effect on pain was analysed with a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant treatment effects in favour of neck coordination exercise were found for short-term or 6-month evaluations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neck coordination exercise is no better than strength training and massage in improving sensorimotor function. Further research should investigate the use of cut-offs for sensorimotor dysfunctions prior to proprioceptive or coordinative training.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Gävle, Gävle, Sweden.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rudolfsson
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Djupsjöbacka
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Häger
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Björklund
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008405:Massage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D055070:Resistance Training; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome