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Abstract：
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of chronic non-specific neck pain (CNNP) is on the rise among the young adult population. We herein aimed to compare the effects of long-term specific cervical extensor training and stretching exercises on improving this chronic disorder in young adults.
METHODS: In this prospective, randomized, controlled study, 70 participants aged 18-35 years with CNNP and cervical lordosis loss were included. The participants were assigned to undergo either specific cervical extensor training (observation group) or perform usual stretching exercises (control group). The exercise duration was set at 12 months, with 9 months at the clinic and 3 months at home. The outcome assessments included changes in the neck disability index, visual analog scale from baseline, cervical range of motion (CROM), cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of cervical extensors, and cervical curvature from baseline. The outcome measures were compared between groups at 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up.
RESULTS: All 70 participants underwent randomization, and no significant differences in demographics and baseline data were found between the two groups. The observation group showed a greater improvement in neck disability index and visual analog scale scores at the 12-month follow-up than the control group. Additionally, a more substantial increase in CROM and CSAs of cervical extensors was observed in the observation group at the 6-month and 12-month follow-ups (P < 0.05). Although more participants in the observation group achieved cervical lordosis at the 12-month follow-up, the difference was marginally nonsignificant (9% in the control group vs. 28% in the observation group, P = 0.075).
CONCLUSIONS: In young adults with CNNP, long-term specific cervical extensor training was associated with a more significant clinically meaningful improvement in disability, pain, and CROM than stretching exercises. The increased CSAs of cervical extensors may potentially contribute to the restoration of cervical lordosis. Trial registration The study is registered at the Chinese domestic clinical trial (ChiCTR2000040009) at Chictr.org. The date of registration: November 18, 2020.
METHODS: In this prospective, randomized, controlled study, 70 participants aged 18-35 years with CNNP and cervical lordosis loss were included. The participants were assigned to undergo either specific cervical extensor training (observation group) or perform usual stretching exercises (control group). The exercise duration was set at 12 months, with 9 months at the clinic and 3 months at home. The outcome assessments included changes in the neck disability index, visual analog scale from baseline, cervical range of motion (CROM), cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of cervical extensors, and cervical curvature from baseline. The outcome measures were compared between groups at 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up.
RESULTS: All 70 participants underwent randomization, and no significant differences in demographics and baseline data were found between the two groups. The observation group showed a greater improvement in neck disability index and visual analog scale scores at the 12-month follow-up than the control group. Additionally, a more substantial increase in CROM and CSAs of cervical extensors was observed in the observation group at the 6-month and 12-month follow-ups (P < 0.05). Although more participants in the observation group achieved cervical lordosis at the 12-month follow-up, the difference was marginally nonsignificant (9% in the control group vs. 28% in the observation group, P = 0.075).
CONCLUSIONS: In young adults with CNNP, long-term specific cervical extensor training was associated with a more significant clinically meaningful improvement in disability, pain, and CROM than stretching exercises. The increased CSAs of cervical extensors may potentially contribute to the restoration of cervical lordosis. Trial registration The study is registered at the Chinese domestic clinical trial (ChiCTR2000040009) at Chictr.org. The date of registration: November 18, 2020.
摘要：
背景：慢性非特异性颈痛（CNNP）的患病率在年轻成年人群中呈上升趋势。我们在此旨在比较长期特定的颈椎伸肌训练和伸展运动对改善年轻人这种慢性疾病的影响。
方法：在此前瞻性中，随机化，对照研究,包括70名年龄在18-35岁的CNNP和宫颈前凸丢失的参与者。参与者被分配接受特定的颈椎伸肌训练（观察组）或进行常规的伸展运动（对照组）。运动时间定为12个月，在诊所呆了9个月，在家里呆了3个月。结果评估包括颈部残疾指数的变化，从基线的视觉模拟量表，颈椎活动范围（CROM），颈椎伸肌的横截面积（CSAs），和基线的颈椎曲度。在随访3、6和12个月时，比较两组之间的结局指标。
结果：所有70名参与者都接受了随机分组，两组之间的人口统计学和基线数据没有显着差异。观察组12个月随访时颈部残疾指数和视觉模拟量表评分改善幅度大于对照组。此外,在6个月和12个月的随访中，观察组的CROM和CSA显着增加（P<0.05）。尽管观察组中更多的参与者在12个月的随访中实现了宫颈前凸,差异不显著(对照组9%与28％的观察组，P=0.075)。
结论：在患有CNNP的年轻人中，长期特定的颈椎伸肌训练与残疾的更显著的临床意义改善相关，疼痛,和CROM比伸展运动。宫颈伸肌的CSA增加可能可能有助于恢复宫颈前凸。试验注册本研究已在Chictr.org的中国国内临床试验（ChiCTR2000040009）注册。注册日期：2020年11月18日。
方法：在此前瞻性中，随机化，对照研究,包括70名年龄在18-35岁的CNNP和宫颈前凸丢失的参与者。参与者被分配接受特定的颈椎伸肌训练（观察组）或进行常规的伸展运动（对照组）。运动时间定为12个月，在诊所呆了9个月，在家里呆了3个月。结果评估包括颈部残疾指数的变化，从基线的视觉模拟量表，颈椎活动范围（CROM），颈椎伸肌的横截面积（CSAs），和基线的颈椎曲度。在随访3、6和12个月时，比较两组之间的结局指标。
结果：所有70名参与者都接受了随机分组，两组之间的人口统计学和基线数据没有显着差异。观察组12个月随访时颈部残疾指数和视觉模拟量表评分改善幅度大于对照组。此外,在6个月和12个月的随访中，观察组的CROM和CSA显着增加（P<0.05）。尽管观察组中更多的参与者在12个月的随访中实现了宫颈前凸,差异不显著(对照组9%与28％的观察组，P=0.075)。
结论：在患有CNNP的年轻人中，长期特定的颈椎伸肌训练与残疾的更显著的临床意义改善相关，疼痛,和CROM比伸展运动。宫颈伸肌的CSA增加可能可能有助于恢复宫颈前凸。试验注册本研究已在Chictr.org的中国国内临床试验（ChiCTR2000040009）注册。注册日期：2020年11月18日。
