title: The effects of a neck musculoskeletal intervention on neck pain levels and depression in post-traumatic stress disorder patients.
abstract: [Purpose] To identify the effects of a neck intervention on neck pain and depression in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). [Subjects] Thirty-one patients with neck pain and a diagnosis of PTSD were enrolled. [Methods] Neck exercise training was performed with the experimental group and neck self-exercise (using a modification of the McKenzie exercise) was used with the control group. Both groups performed their exercises for 30 minutes at a time, three times per week. To compare the effects of the interventions, the threshold of neck tenderness and depression levels were measured at each period. [Results] The pain threshold of both sides of the trapezius showed a significant difference between the two groups at the three measurement periods. In the experimental group, the threshold increased by 19.7% on the left and 18.3% on the right after the intervention compared to before. Depression levels significantly differed in the experimental group between the three measurements. [Conclusion] This study has important implications for therapeutic strategies, as it provides strong evidence for a method of improving symptoms of neck pain; furthermore, it is effective for subjects with psychological problems such as PTSD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Gwang ju Trauma Center, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Hun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Woosuk University Oriental Hospital, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Doo
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: Depression; Neck pain; Post-traumatic stress disorder