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http://dx.doi.org/10.12674/ptk.2015.22.1.058

The Effect of Lower Trapezius Strengthening Exercises on Pain, Disability, Cervical Range of Motion and Strength of Lower Trapezius in Patients With Unilateral Neck Pain : A Controlled Randomized Trial  

Kim, Ki-Yong (Dept. of Physical Therapy, Graduate School, Daejeon University)
Kim, Suhn-Yeop (Dept. of Physical Therapy, College of Natural Science, Daejeon University)
Publication Information
Physical Therapy Korea / v.22, no.1, 2015 , pp. 58-68 More about this Journal
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the effect of lower trapezius muscle strengthening exercises on pain, neck disability index (NDI), cervical range of motion (ROM), and lower trapezius muscle strength in patients with unilateral neck pain. Following baseline measurements, the subjects (N=40) with unilateral neck pain were randomized into one of two 5 weeks exercise intervention groups: a experimental group (EG, $n_1=20$) that received strength training of the lower trapezius muscles or a control group (CG, $n_2=20$) that received routine physical therapy program. Each group participated in the intervention for 30 minutes, 3 times a week, for 5 weeks. All participants performed 2 repetitions of each intervention per day. The numeric pain rating scale for pain, NDI, ROM, and lower trapezius strength were recorded both pre- and post-intervention for both groups. Paired t-tests were used to determine significant changes post-intervention compared with pre-intervention and independent t-tests were used to analyze differences in the dependent variables between the 2 groups. After the 5-weeks intervention, both groups experienced significantly decreased pain and disability level (p<.05) and significantly increased cervical flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation ROM (p<.05). The EG that received strength training of the lower trapezius muscles showed greater improvements in pain and functional disability level, cervical rotation, and lower trapezius strength than the CG (p<.05). These results suggest that a lower trapezius strengthening exercises reduce neck pain and neck disability level and enhance cervical ROM and lower trapezius strength level in patients with unilateral neck pain.
Keywords
Disability; Lower trapezius strength; Strengthening exercise; Unilateral neck pain;
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