Traditional physical therapy exercises combined with sensorimotor training: The effects on clinical outcomes for chronic neck pain in a double-blind, randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the effects of combining traditional physical therapy exercises with sensorimotor training on joint position sense, pain, muscle endurance, balance and disability in patients with chronic, non-specific neck pain.

Design: Double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Subjects: A total of 53 patients with chronic non-specific neck pain were randomized to either traditional or combined exercise groups.

Interventions: All patients received 12 sessions of supervised intervention 3 times per week. The traditional group performed traditional exercises, and the combined exercise group performed sensorimotor training in addition to traditional exercises.

Outcome measures: Joint position sense, pain, neck flexor muscle endurance test, 10 Meter Walk Test, step test, and the Neck Disability Index.

Results: The combined exercise group showed significantly greater improvement compared to the traditional group in joint position sense during extension, flexion, right rotation, the 10 m walk test with head turn, and the step test. Pain intensity, muscle endurance, and disability improved in both groups. Additionally, there was a higher degree of effect on muscle endurance in the combined exercise group compared to a moderate effect in the traditional group.

Conclusions: A combination of sensorimotor training with traditional physical therapy exercises could be more effective than traditional exercises alone in improving joint position sense, endurance, dynamic balance and walking speed.