title: The effect of different exercise programs on cervical flexor muscles dimensions in patients with chronic neck pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effect of different exercise programs on cervical flexor muscles dimensions in patients with chronic neck pain is yet to be demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of two exercise programs; craniocervical flexion (CCF) and cervical flexion (CF), on flexor muscles dimensions in patients with chronic neck pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following ethical approval, 60 patients were randomly assigned into either a CCF group or a CF group. Patients in the CCF group were given CCF exercises and those in the CF group received CF exercises. All patients received interventions for a period of ten weeks. Pain intensity and functional disability were assessed using numerical pain rate scale and neck disability index, respectively. Dimensions of longus colli (LC) and sternoclidomastoid (SCM) muscles were measured using ultrasonography (US). All measurements were taken before and after interventions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following intervention, the CCF group demonstrated a significant increase in LC muscle dimensions including cross sectional area, width and thickness compared with the CF group. A statistically significant increase was found on SCM thickness in the CF group. Following intervention, SCM thickness measurement in the CCF group showed no significant changes. Statistically significant decrease on pain intensity and disability were also found in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Present findings demonstrated that craniocervical flexion program which specifically recruiting deep cervical flexor muscles increased LC muscle dimension significantly and CF program as an endurance training program increased SCM thickness.
authors: Department of Physiotherapy, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors: Khodabakhsh
authors: K
authors: Javanshir
authors: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Evin, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Mohsen
authors: M
authors: Amiri
authors: Iranian Research Center on Aging, Department of Physiotherapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Evin, Tehran, Iran.|University Institute of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors: Mohammad Ali
authors: MA
authors: Mohseni Bandpei
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcon, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Cesar Fernandez
authors: CF
authors: De las Penas
authors: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Asghar
authors: A
authors: Rezasoltani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009929:Organ Size; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Exercise program; cross sectional area; flexor muscles; neck pain; ultrasonography