Comparison of the Efficacy of Maitland Thoracic Mobilization and Deep Neck Flexor Endurance Training Versus only Deep Neck Flexor Endurance Training in Patients with Mechanical Neck Pain

Objective: To compare efficacy of Maitland Thoracic Mobilisation and Deep Neck Flexor (DNF) Endurance training with only Deep Neck Flexor Endurance training on Cervical Range Of Motion (ROM), Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and Neck Disability Index (NDI) in patients with Mechanical Neck Pain.

Study design: Experimental

Methodology: 30 mechanical neck pain patients between the age 18 -35 who met inclusion&exclusion criteria were selected. They were then randomly assigned to one of the 2 treatments groups: Group A (Maitland thoracic mobilisation with DNF endurance exercises) or Group B (only DNF endurance exercises) The training groups were assigned to their respective treatment programs for a period of 4 weeks.

Participants were assessed on the following outcome measures before and after 4 weeks of treatment.

1) Numerical Pain Rating Scale

2) Neck Disability Index

3) Cervical Range of Motion

Result: On comparison, Maitland Thoracic Mobilisation with DNF Endurance training was found to produce more statistically significant reduction in pain and greater improvement in Cervical Lateral Flexion and Rotation range of motion. However there was more reduction even in NDI scoring in this group, but when compared with only DNF Endurance training exercises it was not statistically significant. There were no statistical significant differences when the groups were compared for cervical sagittal mobility.

Conclusion: In patients with Mechanical Neck Pain, DNF Endurance training exercises with Maitland Thoracic mobilisations is more effective than only DNF Endurance training exercises reducing pain and improving cervical lateral flexion and rotation ROM, but there was no statistically significant difference between groups on cervical sagittal mobility and NDI scoring.