Effect of Stretching on Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain and Pressure Pain Threshold: A Pilot RCT

Abstract

Non-specific chronic neck pain commonly affects office workers. Previous studies have explored various forms of physical exercise as therapies to alleviate pain and improve function. However, limited research has investigated stretching as an isolated intervention among office workers, with only one study demonstrating promising results. This pilot study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a 4-week static stretching protocol as a standalone treatment for reducing self-reported pain levels and improving pressure pain threshold (PPT) in women experiencing chronic non-specific neck pain. Sixty-six employed women with moderate to severe chronic neck pain were randomly assigned to either the static stretching (SS) or control group (CG). The SS group performed six neck muscle stretching exercises regularly for 4 weeks. Therapeutic effectiveness was evaluated before treatment initiation and at the end of the 4-week treatment period using the 11-point numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) and pressure pain threshold (PPT). Significant findings revealed a decrease in PPT in favor of the SS group, indicating reduced pressure pain sensitivity (p=0.013). However, there was no significant difference in NPRS between the two groups at the 4-week assessment (p=0.798). Our findings suggest that static stretching leads to a decrease in PPT but does not influence NPRS in women with chronic non-specific neck pain. Further evaluation of static stretching in a larger population with non-specific chronic neck pain is warranted. Additionally, future studies should investigate the optimal training dosage required to induce physiological and neuromuscular changes potentially linked to decreased neck pain and increased PPT levels.13pubpub