Skip to main content

Table 3 Within the groups: differences in pain intensity (Numeric rating scale; NRS), function measured by Neck disability index (NDI), range of motion in the neck, and strength in the neck and shoulders

From: Evaluation of pain and function after two home exercise programs in a clinical trial on women with chronic neck pain - with special emphasises on completers and responders

  STRENGTH training group STRETCHING group
  Difference BL - 4 to 6 months p-value Difference BL - 12 months p-value Difference BL - 4 to 6 months p-value Difference BL - 12 months p-value
  Median (25, 75 percentile)   Median (25, 75 percentile)   Median (25, 75 percentile)   Median (25, 75 percentile)  
  Primary outcomes  
  Pain intensity in the neck and shoulders  
Pain neck (NRS) 1 (−0.75, 3) NS 2 (−1, 5) NS 1 (−2, 2) NS 1 (0, 2) 0.009
Pain shoulder (NRS) 1 (−2.75, 2.75) NS 1 (−1, 3) NS 1 (−1, 4) NS 1 (0, 2) 0.017
  Function  
Function (NDI) 2 (0, 5.5) 0.036 4 (2, 8) 0.002 1 (−2, 4) NS 4 (−1, 10) 0.015
  Secondary outcomes*  
  Range of motion in the neck (degrees)  
Neck flexion −4 (−12.25, 2) 0.043 −2 (−9, 3) NS −2 (−12, 0) NS −6 (−16, 4) NS
Neck extension −9 (−15, -1.5) 0.004 −11 (−25, -2) 0.002 −6 (−19, -2) 0.002 −12 (−14, 0) 0.003
Lat. flex. right −8 (−12, -2) <0.001 −6 (−12, -2) <0.001 −6 (−10, -2) 0.003 −6 (−14, 4) <0.001
Lat. flex. left −3.5 (−8.5, 0) 0.002 −8 (−10, 0) 0.002 −2 (−12, 4) NS −10 (−16, -2) 0.001
Rotation right −6 (−10, 1) 0.002 −2 (−8, 1) 0.006 −2 (−10, 4) NS −4 (−14, 0) NS
Rotation left −9 (−12, -4) <0.001 −10 (−13, -2) <0.001 0 (−8, 4) NS −6 (−10, 2) 0.026
  Strength in neck and shoulders (N) = Newton, (#) = numbers of repetition  
Neck flex, (N) −17 (−29, -9) <0.001 −17 (−29, -12) <0.001 −11 (−20, -1) 0.011 −5 (−22, 3) NS
Neck ext, (N) −30 (−55, -16) <0.001 −40 (−57, -17) <0.001 −28 (−44, -15) 0.002 −25 (−30, -12) 0.001
Shod. abd. 4 kg, (#) −5 (−10, -1) 0.001 −8 (−16, -4) <0.001 −1 (−4, 0) 0.044 −2 (−6, 0) NS
Stand. row4 kg, (#) −13 (−23, -5) <0.001 −18 (−25, -6) <0.001 −5 (−10, 0) 0.001 −6 (−13, -4) 0.003
  1. BL compared to 4 to 6 months of training and BL compared to 12 months of training. Statistical analysis is performed with Wilcoxon signed rank test.
  2. *An improvement in secondary outcomes is shown by a negative number (contrary to primary outcomes).
Back to article page

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

ISSN: 1471-2474

Contact us