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Comparison of the effectiveness of resistance training in women with chronic computer-related neck pain: a randomized controlled study

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health volume 90, pages 673–683 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Chronic computer-related neck pain is common among office workers. Studies have proposed neck strengthening exercise as a therapy to pain relieving and function improvement. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of different loading resistance trainings and we hypothesized that women with work-related neck pain could benefit more from progressive resistance training for pain and function recovery.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was conducted and subjects characterized by monotonous jobs were recruited. One hundred and nine employed women with chronic neck pain were randomly allocated into three groups, namely, progressive resistance training (PRT), fixed resistance training (FRT), and control group (CG). In PRT and FRT, four exercises for neck muscles with an elastic rubber band were performed on regular basis for 6 weeks. The therapeutic effectiveness was then evaluated at pretreatment, 2, 4, and 6 weeks during training period, and 3-month posttreatment. Assessment tools included visual analog scale (VAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), pressure pain threshold (PPT), and maximal isometric neck strength.

Results

The outcomes were significantly better in PRT and FRT than those in CG at 6-week timepoint and 3-month follow-up (p = 0.000), in terms of VAS, NDI, PPT, and neck muscle strength. Besides, there were statistically significant decreases observed in VAS scores of PRT group compared with those in FRT at 4-, 6-week timepoints, and 3-month follow-up (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The neck resistance training was an effective method for pain relieving, mobility improving, pain threshold, and neck muscle strength enhancing in women with chronic computer-related neck pain. Thus, our study provided evidence that women with work-related neck pain might benefit more from PRT, which may have important implications for future clinical practice.

Trial registration

The study was qualified and registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry as ChiCTR-TRC-12002723.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Grant of National Science Foundation of China (81171469 and 81671088).

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Author notes

  1. Xiao Li and Caina Lin contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pain Treatment Centre, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 107 Yanjiang West Road, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong Province, China

    Xiao Li, Caina Lin, Cuicui Liu, Songjian Ke, Qing Wan, Haijie Luo, Zhuxi Huang, Chao Ma & Shaoling Wu

  2. Department of Physiology and Pain Research Center, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan Medical School, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China

    Wenjun Xin

Authors
  1. Xiao Li
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  2. Caina Lin
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  3. Cuicui Liu
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  4. Songjian Ke
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  5. Qing Wan
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  6. Haijie Luo
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  7. Zhuxi Huang
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  8. Wenjun Xin
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  9. Chao Ma
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  10. Shaoling Wu
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Contributions

Author contributions

XL and CL designed the experiment and drafted the manuscript; CL analysed and interpreted of data; SK and QW were responsible for evaluation; HL and ZH were in charge of training; WX collected the follow-up data; and CM and SW conceived of the study and participated in its design and coordination. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Chao Ma or Shaoling Wu.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Li, X., Lin, C., Liu, C. et al. Comparison of the effectiveness of resistance training in women with chronic computer-related neck pain: a randomized controlled study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 90, 673–683 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-017-1230-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-017-1230-2

Keywords

  • Chronic computer-related neck pain
  • Resistance training
  • Women
  • Progressive