title: The Effect of Different Exercise Programs on Size and Function of Deep Cervical Flexor Muscles in Patients With Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neck pain is one of the major public health problems, which has a great impact on people's lives.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to systematically review published studies conducted on the effect of different exercise programs on activity, size, endurance, and strength of deep cervical flexor (DCF) muscles in patients with chronic neck pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PubMed, Science Direct, OVID, Google scholar, Cochrane Library, and Physiotherapy Evidence Databases were searched to determine relevant articles published from 1990 to March 2016. The articles were qualitatively assessed based on the Physiotherapy Evidence Databases scale for randomized controlled trials studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine articles were identified and evaluated in the final analysis. Four studies had moderate quality, and five studies had good quality. From those nine studies, eight studies gave support to the effectiveness of specific low-load exercise training on DCF muscles parameters, while one study reported no significant difference between this exercise and other cervical exercise programs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of reviewed studies are in favor of specific low-load craniocervical flexion exercise, which seems to be a highly effective exercise regimen compared to other types of exercises in improving DCF muscles impairments in patients with chronic neck pain.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Physiotherapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran (SAA); Pediatric Neurorehabilitation Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran (MAMB); University Institute of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan (MAMB); Department of Physiotherapy, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran (KJ); Physiotherapy Research Centre, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (AR); and Department of Biostatistics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran (AB).
authors.forename: Somayeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amiri Arimi
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mohseni Bandpei
authors.forename: Khodabakhsh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Javanshir
authors.forename: Asghar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rezasoltani
authors.forename: Akbar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biglarian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009929:Organ Size; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome