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
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 |