Abstract:

Purpose: The purpose of our study is to compare the effects of isometric exercises in people with chronic neck pain with neck muscle exercises; pain severity, neck and temporomandibular joint movements, quality of life and disability. Instruments and Methods: Thirty chronic neck pain individuals were randomized to 2 groups (Group A, average age: 39,6±10,4; Group B, average age: 41,4±12,2). Servial and temporomandibular joint movement opennesses (EHA), pain severity, disability and quality of life have been evaluated. Events in Group A were included in 5 cervical isometric exercises, and Events in Group B were included in home programs that included 5 cervical exercises. Treatment programmes for each group were continued for 3 weeks. At the end of the treatment, the evaluations were repeated. The findings: in Group A; the pain severity decreased, cervical fraction, extension, left lateral fraction, right and left rotation EHA and maximum mouth openness increased, quality of life and disability improved (p<0,05). In Group B; pain severity decreased, cervical flektion, extension, right and left lateral flektion, right and left rotation EHA, maximum mouth openness and mandibula movements increased, quality of life and improvement in the case of disability was observed (p<0,05). The change achieved in the mandibula protrusion (p=0,009) and the right side deviation of mandibula (p=0,032) was better in Group B than in Group A. Results: Our results show that in people with chronic neck pain, neck muscles and isometric neck exercises have similar effects on pain, cervical EHA, maximum mouth openness, quality of life and discomfort, and that neck muscle exercises can provide more increase in mandibula movements.

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