Background

The effect of interventions to the Sternocleidomastoid (SCM)-muscle, as an important element of neck movement which is overactive in individuals with chronic neck pain (CNP), are unknown.

Objective

The aim of the current study is to investigate the effects of SCM stretching and massage on pain, range of motion (ROM), endurance, disability, and kinesiophobia in individuals with CNP.

Methods

In this study, individuals with CNP were randomized 1:1 to parallel SCM-Group (n = 30) or control group (CG) (n = 30). Conventional physiotherapy was applied to CG. In addition to the same interventions applied to the CG, classical massage and stretching exercises were applied to the SCM-muscle in the SCM-Group. Treatment sessions were administered three times each week for a total of 5 weeks. Pain, endurance, ROM, disability, and kinesiophobia were evaluated. Both prior to and immediately following the treatments. Mixed-model repeated measured ANOVAs were then employed to determine if a group*time interaction existed on the effects of the treatment on each outcome variable for each group as the between-subjects variable and time as the within-subjects variables.

Results

Improvements in pain, disability, ROM(extension, left-lateral flexion, and right/left-rotation), and endurance were found to be greater in the SCM-Group compared to the CG (p < 0.05). Changes in flexion and right-lateral flexion ROM and kinesiophobia did not significantly differ between the groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Stretching exercises and massage applied to the SCM-muscle, together with conventional physiotherapy, can reduce pain and disability, and increase ROM and endurance in individuals with CNP. This treatment may therefore be considered for use as an alternative method in treating CNP.

The study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04345042).

中文翻译：

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胸锁乳突肌拉伸和按摩相结合对慢性颈部疼痛患者的疼痛、残疾、耐力、运动恐惧症和运动范围的影响：一项随机、单盲研究

背景

胸锁乳突肌 (SCM) 肌肉是颈部运动的重要组成部分，在慢性颈部疼痛 (CNP) 患者中过度活跃，干预措施的效果尚不清楚。

客观的

本研究的目的是调查 SCM 拉伸和按摩对 CNP 患者的疼痛、活动范围 (ROM)、耐力、残疾和运动恐惧症的影响。

方法

在本研究中，CNP 患者按 1:1 随机分配至平行 SCM 组 (n = 30) 或对照组 (CG) (n = 30)。CG采用常规物理治疗。除了对 CG 进行相同的干预外，SCM 组的 SCM 肌肉也进行了经典按摩和伸展运动。每周进行 3 次治疗，总共 5 周。对疼痛、耐力、活动范围、残疾和运动恐惧症进行了评估。在治疗之前和之后立即进行。然后采用混合模型重复测量的方差分析来确定治疗对每个组的每个结果变量（作为受试者间变量）和时间（作为受试者内变量）的治疗效果是否存在组*时间交互作用。

结果

与 CG 组相比，SCM 组在疼痛、残疾、ROM（伸展、左侧屈曲和右/左旋转）和耐力方面的改善更大（p < 0.05）。各组之间屈曲和右侧屈曲活动范围以及运动恐惧症的变化没有显着差异（p > 0.05）。

结论

对 SCM 肌肉进行伸展运动和按摩，再加上传统的物理治疗，可以减轻 CNP 患者的疼痛和残疾，并增加 ROM 和耐力。因此，可以考虑将这种治疗用作治疗 CNP 的替代方法。

该研究已在 ClinicalTrials.gov 上注册 (NCT04345042)。