Effect of Neck Exercises on Headache
Thursday, July 8, 2010 at 12:33AMA recent article in the Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine reported on a study comparing three different types of training programs on headache and arm pain in the context of chronic neck pain symptoms.
The study looked at a group of office workers with “chronic, nonspecific neck pain.”[i] The participants were assigned to one of three groups: (1) stretching group, (2) strength group, and (3) endurance group.
The “endurance group” performed deep neck flexor training (http://www.backexercisedoctor.com/journal/2010/6/22/deep-neck-flexor-training-engaging-the-abdominals-of-the-nec.html ) in 3 series of 20 repetitions.
The “strength group” performed neck strengthening with use of a Theraband and pushing forwards, obliquely and backwards.
The participants of both of these groups performed dynamic exercises for the neck and upper extremities with dumbbells, again with a training bias towards either endurance or strength (in terms of weight used and repetitions) respectively. In addition, both of these groups also performed stretching activities.
The “stretching group” was the control group and their training/education did not include any strengthening activities.
The authors of the study found that “strength and endurance exercises, when accompanied by stretching, were shown to be an effective treatment for headache and arm symptoms associated with neck pain.” [ii] More specifically, Ylinen et al. found a 58 to around 70% improvement in headache and arm symptoms with these interventions. [iii]
Often in my clinic I see patients that have seen therapists and come away with an exercise program that includes only stretching activities. This study reinforces the idea (supported by other studies as well) that “stretching, which is often recommended for patients, was less effective alone than when combined with muscle endurance and strength training.” [iv]
[i] J Rehabil Med 2010; 42: 344-349
[ii] J Rehabil Med 2010; 42: 344-349
[iii] J Rehabil Med 2010; 42: 344-349
[iv] J Rehabil Med 2010; 42: 344-349
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