The value of therapeutic exercise in the management of chronic mechanical cervical spine conditions

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to compare the effectiveness of chiropractic manipulation alone to the use of chiropractic manipulation together with therapeutic exercise in the management of chronic mechanical cervical spine conditions. Measurements in terms of objective and subjective clinical findings, were to be used to substantiate or refute the use of auxiliary therapeutic exercise in these conditions. It was hypothesised that therapeutic exercise would be a valuable adjunct to the chiropractic management of chronic mechanical cervical spine conditions in terms of objective (flexibility) and subjective (pain and disability) clinical findings. Thirty consecutive subjects suffering from chronic neck pain were obtained from local advertising (radio and newspapers) and randomly placed into two groups for comparison. The 0. age group of subjects accepted ranged from 16 to 60 and included both sexes from any race, who had suffered from neck pain for six weeks or longer. Subjects were assessed to determine whether there were any contra-indications to manipulation or exercise. Treatment commenced for a month with both groups receiving spinal manipulative therapy and one group doing daily therapeutic exercises. The eROM goniometer, McGill Pain Questionnaire, Numerical Pain Rating Scale - 101 Questionnaire and the CMee Neck Disability Index were