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Effects of clinical pilates exercises in patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain: a randomized clinical trial

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Abstract

Background

Neck pain is a common musculoskeletal problem in adults. Clinical pilates exercises can be beneficial managing the pain and improving the risk factors.

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of clinical pilates exercises on pain and disability, deep neck flexor endurance (DNFE), posture, cervical range of motion (CROM), and proprioception in patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain.

Methods

Fifty patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain were randomized into two groups. The clinical pilates exercise group (CPEG) received clinical pilates exercises for 6 weeks. The control group (CG) received posture education. Pain and disability, DNFE, forward head angle (FHA) and forward shoulder angle (FSA) degrees, CROM, and joint position error (JPE) were measured before and after 6 weeks.

Results

Clinical pilates exercises improved pain, Neck Disability Index (NDI), DNFE, posture, CROM (except extension), and JPE (p < 0.05). We found significant differences between CPEG and CG in the comparisons for the change of pain, NDI, DNFE, FSA, CROM (except extension), and JPE (except left rotation) (p < 0.05). NDI, FSA, and rotational JPE also improved in CG (p < 0.05). However, these improvements were significantly better in CPEG than CG (p < 0.05) except JPE in left rotation (p = 0.118).

Conclusion

In patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain, clinical pilates exercise is a safe and effective method to improve pain and disability, DNFE, posture, ROM, and proprioception.

Clinical trial registration

NCT03782584 retrospectively registered December 20 2018.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Simon Mumford for English language editing the article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiotherapy, Vocational School of Health Services, Izmir University of Economics, Fevzi Çakmak, Sakarya Cd. No: 156, 35330, Balcova, Izmir, Turkey

    Gonca Sahiner Picak

  2. Institute of Health Sciences, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey

    Gonca Sahiner Picak

  3. Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey

    Sevgi Sevi Yesilyaprak

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  1. Gonca Sahiner Picak
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  2. Sevgi Sevi Yesilyaprak
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Correspondence to Gonca Sahiner Picak.

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This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Dokuz Eylul University (approval no: 2017/17-08), and all participants provided written informed consent.

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Appendix 1. Pilates exercises

Appendix 1. Pilates exercises

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Sahiner Picak, G., Yesilyaprak, S.S. Effects of clinical pilates exercises in patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain: a randomized clinical trial. Ir J Med Sci 192, 1205–1214 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-022-03101-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-022-03101-y

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