earticle

영어

The study aimed to determine the effect of the thoracic mobility exercise with 8-figure shoulder brace on pain, range of motion (ROM), craniovertebral angle (CVA) in neck pain patients with forward head posture. Following baseline measurements, 22 subjects (n=22) with chronic neck pain were randomized into two groups: the experimental group (n=11), which received thoracic mobility exercise with figure 8 shoulder brace, and the control group (n=11), which only thoracic mobility exercise. Each group participated in the intervention for three times per week, for four weeks. The numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) for pain, ROM and CVA 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 four weeks intervention, both groups experienced significantly decreased NPRS (p<.05) and significantly increased ROM and CVA (p<.05). The experimental group that received the thoracic mobility exercise with figure 8 shoulder brace showed greater improvements in pain, ROM and CVA than those of the control group (p<.05). These results suggest that the thoracic mobility exercise with figure 8 shoulder brace reduces neck pain and enhances ROM and CVA in neck pain patients with forward head posture.