Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Basic Science

Background: Neck pain is a personal and social burden that causes significant impairment, secondly to low back pain impairments. It is one of the major disabling conditions among the elderly. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of stretching exercise versus ischemic compression in elderly subjects suffering from chronic neck pain. Method: Thirty elderly subjects (18 males and 12 females), with age ranged from 60 to 75 years old participated in this study. Their mean age was 67.93±5.07years, weight was 77.53±5.55kg and height was 172.86±6.046cm. They were assigned randomly into two groups, each one has 15 patients: group (A) received stretching exercises for 15 sessions. Group (B) received ischemic compression for 15 sessions. Assessment of cervical Range of motion (ROM) was done with Myrin OB goniometer, assessment of pressure pain threshold (PPT) was done with pressure algometer and functional disability was assessed by Neck Disability Index (NDI), and they were done before and after the treatment program for both groups. Results: The study showed that there was a statistical significant difference in the mean value of both groups in active ROM in flexion, extension, right side bending and left side bending of the neck where P=0.0001, and in pain threshold where P=0.0001and function disability was significantly decreased in both groups where P=0.001, with a greater improvement in group (B). Conclusion: ischemic compression is more effective than the stretching exercise in increasing pain threshold and improving cervical ROM and function in chronic neck pain in elderly.

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