Fatma Alzahraa Mohamed Ali, Soheir Shehata Rezkallah, Ghada Abd Elmoneim Abdullah, Haidy Samir Roshdy
Fatma Alzahraa Mohamed Ali, Soheir Shehata Rezkallah, Ghada Abd Elmoneim Abdullah, Haidy Samir Roshdy – Efficacy of cervical stabilization exercises on hand grip strength in chronic myofascial neck pain: a randomized controlled study – Fizjoterapia Polska 2025; 25(2); 384-391
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56984/8ZG00E1Y752
Abstract
Background. Myofascial pain syndrome is considered a common non-articular musculoskeletal pain and a major cause of chronic neck pain. Cervical stabilization exercises have been shown to reduce neck pain and disability by increasing the activation of deep neck flexor muscles and improving coordination between superficial and deep cervical muscles.
Purpose. To assess the efficacy of cervical stabilization exercises in chronic myofascial neck pain in terms of hand grip and key pinch strength, intensity of neck pain, pain pressure threshold, and hand function.
Methods. Fifty-two female patients diagnosed with chronic myofascial neck pain with active myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius were randomly assigned into two equal groups.
Experimental Group A was treated with cervical stabilization exercises and integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique. Their mean ± SD age, weight, height, and BMI were 30.12 ± 5.44 years, 66.58 ± 7.10 kg, 159.23 ± 5.59 cm, and 26.22 ± 1.92 kg/m², respectively.
Control Group B was treated with integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique alone. Their mean ± SD age, weight, height, and BMI were 31.31 ± 5.68 years, 67.35 ± 9.91 kg, 160.54 ± 6.47 cm, and 26.10 ± 3.40 kg/m², respectively.
Treatment was administered three sessions per week for one month. Hand grip strength was measured using a handheld dynamometer, key pinch strength with a pinch dynamometer, pain pressure threshold via pressure algometer, neck pain intensity using a visual analogue scale, and hand function via the Michigan Hand Questionnaire.
Results. All measurements showed statistically significant improvements in both groups (p < 0.05). Additionally, the experimental group outperformed the control group in terms of progress.
Conclusion. Adding cervical stabilization exercises to integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique has a superior effect on hand grip strength compared to the inhibition technique alone in patients with chronic myofascial neck pain.
Key words
cervical stabilization exercises, hand grip strength, myofascial neck pain