Boyun Ağrılı Hastalarda Servikal Stabilizasyon Egzersizlerinin Solunum Fonksiyonları ve Solunum Kas Kuvveti Üzerine Etkisi

Abstract

Respiratory functions have been affected in neck pain patients and there is no study in the literature investigating the effect of stabilization exercises on respiratory function. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of stabilization exercises on pulmonary functions and respiratory muscle strength. 42 patients with neck pain were included in this study. Patients were divided into two groups, the stabilization group (n=21) and the control group (n=21) by simple random sampling method. Stabilization exercises included motor control training performed on stabilization group. In control group, conventional exercises including neck isometric, neck isotonic, posture and stretching exercises were performed. The patients underwent a total of 24 sessions of treatment 3 days in a week for 8 weeks. All patients participating in this study were evaluated twice before and after the 8 weeks of practice. Pulmonary functions were evaluated using sphirometry, respiratory muscle strength (maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP)) was evaluated using mouth pressure device, pain was evaluated using Visual Analog Scale (VAS), cervical range of motion was evaluated using universal goniometer, upper exremity muscle strenght was evaluated using a portable manual muscle testing device, deep neck flexor muscle strength and endurance were evaluated using Pressure Biofeedback, disability was evaluated using Neck Disability Index, quality of life was evaluated using Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), kinesiophobia was evaluated using Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) and emotional state was evaluated using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) before and after the treatment. According to the findings obtained, pain, cervical range of motion, deep cervical flexor muscle strength, upper extremity muscle strength, emotional state, disability and quality of life were improved in both stabilization and control group (p<0.05). There was a significant reduction at kinesiophobia levels only in the stabilization group (p<0.05). Comparisions between group showed that stabilization exercises were more effective on pain, cervical range of motion, deep cervical flexor muscle strenght and upper extremity muscle strenght than conventional exercises (p<0.05). There was no significant change in the control group (p>0.05) while there was a significant increase in the stabilization group in MIP, MIP %, MEP, MEP % values after treatment (p<0.05). Comparing the groups, it was seen that stabilization exercises were more effective in increasing the MEP and MEP % values (p<0.05). There was no improvement in pulmonary functions in stabilization and control groups after the treatment (p>0.05). As a result it was found that stabilization exercises were not effective in increasing pulmonary functions, they increased respiratory muscle strength but increased only expiratory muscle strength when compared with the conventional exercises.