Key Insights in New Study on Postural Neck Pain & Strength Training

Michael Rinaldi, PT, OCS

Exercise is used by PTs as a staple for treating musculoskeletal pain. However, many consumers do not consult PTs for their aches, but instead find information of questionable value to try and solve their particular issues. 

How many patients have you had that thought they could "stretch" for their pain to make it better?

How many will ask you if there are "any exercises I can do for this pain in my _________."?

Right. Quite a few. But here's the rub.

Exercise IS therapeutic, but certainly not when prescribed by a patient's co-worker, internet search engine, relative or sometimes even.... their physician or physical therapist. Some key insights from a new study point this out.

In a randomized controlled trial of female workers who have upper trapezius pain, subjects from seven different workplaces were recruited and assigned into two groups: one that did general cardio exercise on a stationary bike and another that did specific resistance training of the upper trapezius muscles. Women recruited had job duties regarded as monotonous, whereby the majority of their work day was spent at a desk and/or in front of a computer.

The treatment duration was ten weeks.

The results were pretty simple: the group that did specific training had a significant drop in pain (VAS improvement of 35mm, vs. 5 mm in the general group) and that it was prolonge. Not too difficult to have predicted that one.

But what does it tell us?

Turn the page to find out.....

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