Cervical spine manipulation versus proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation of the cervical spine in the treatment of mechanical neck pain

M.Tech. (Chiropractic)Aim of this study was to compare which treatment either Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation or chiropractic manipulation, whether by itself or in combination, was more effective and beneficial in the treatment of mechanical neck pain. The effectiveness was measured by the use of a Visual Analogue Scale, Vernon- Mior Neck Pain and Disability Index questionnaire and the measurement of cervical spine range of motion using an analogous cervical spine range of motion inclinometer (CROM). The questionnaire and the measurements were taken prior to the treatments at the first, fourth and seventh consultations.Thirty participants who met the inclusion criteria were randomly placed into three groups of equal size (10 participants each). Group one received a Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) stretching protocol to the cervical spine. Group two received a chiropractic manipulation to the cervical spine. Group three received a combination treatment, first receiving chiropractic manipulation and then a PNF stretching protocol to the cervical spine. Participants were treated six times out of a total of seven sessions, over a maximum of a three week period.Subjective data was collected at the beginning of the first, fourth and seventh consultations. This was done by means of a Visual Analogue Scale and a Vernon-Mior Neck Pain and Disability Index Questionnaire, in order to assess pain and disability levels. Objective data was collected by means of measuring cervical spine range of motion using a cervical range of motion (CROM) inclinometer. Analysis of collected data was performed by a statistician from STATKON, a department of the University of Johannesburg.Clinically significant improvements in group 1, group 2 and group 3 were noted over the duration of the study with reference to pain and disability. Statistically significant changes were seen in all three groups with reference to pain and disability. Group 3 was shown to improve the most with regard to pain and disability. Group 1 had statistically significant improvement with regard to cervical range of motion in the ranges of left and right rotation. Group 2 experienced a decrease range of cervical motion with regard to extension. As the study consisted of a small group of participants further, more extensive studies are needed..