Cervical stability training with and without core stability training for patients with cervical disc herniation: A...

Area of Science:

• Physical Therapy
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Musculoskeletal Disorders

Background:

• Neck pain and cervical disc herniation are prevalent conditions impacting quality of life.
• Cervical stability and core stability are crucial for spinal health and function.
• Understanding the comparative efficacy of targeted training programs is essential for effective patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare the effects of isolated cervical stability training versus combined cervical and core stability training.
• To assess the impact of these interventions on pain, muscle function, disability, and kinesiophobia in patients with neck pain and cervical disc herniation.

Main Methods:

• Fifty patients with neck pain and cervical disc herniation were randomized into two groups: cervical stability training and combined cervical-core stability training.
• Training was administered three times weekly for eight weeks, involving three distinct phases.
• Outcomes measured included pain levels, deep cervical flexor activation and endurance, neck and trunk muscle static endurance, M. Longus Colli cross-sectional diameter, disability, and kinesiophobia.

Main Results:

• Both training protocols significantly improved pain, muscle activation and endurance, disability, and kinesiophobia (p < 0.05).
• The cervical stability group showed a significantly greater increase in the right transverse diameter of M. Longus Colli (p < 0.05).
• The cervical-core stability group demonstrated superior improvement in trunk muscle static endurance and kinesiophobia (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Cervical stability training is beneficial for patients with cervical disc herniation.
• The addition of core stability training did not yield significant additional benefits for the primary outcomes assessed.
• Further research is warranted to explore the efficacy of combining cervical stability training with other therapeutic modalities.