earticle

영어

The study aimed to determine the effect of the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) cervical stabilization exercise on pain, cranio vertebral angle (CVA), and neck disability index (NDI) in chronic neck pain patients with forward head posture. Following baseline measurements, 26 subjects (n=26) with chronic neck pain were randomized into two groups: the experimental group (n=13), which received PNF cervical stabilization exercise, and the control group (n=13), which received traditional physical therapy. Each group participated in the intervention for three times per week, for six weeks. The visual analogue scales (VAS) for pain, CVA, and NDI Korean version (KNDI) of both groups were recorded at both pre- and post-intervention. Paired t-tests were used to determine significant changes in the post-intervention period compared with pre-intervention, and independent t-tests were used to analyze differences in the dependent variables between the two groups. After the six-week intervention, both groups experienced significantly decreased VAS and KNDI (p<.05) and significantly increased CVA (p<.05). The experimental group that received the PNF cervical stabilization exercise showed greater improvements in pain, CVA, and KNDI than those of the control group (p<.05). These results suggest that the PNF cervical stabilization exercise reduces neck pain and functional disability and enhances CVA in chronic neck pain patients with forward head posture.