A Comparative Study between Combinations of Ultrasound Therapy with Active Chin Tuck Exercise and Ultrasound Therapy with Sub Occipital Muscle Release in the Management of Non-Specific Neck Pain due to Sub Occipital Muscle Tightness among Computer Professionals

Abstract

Neck pain is more common in people who spend most of their day working at a desk, in front of the computer with a ‘bent-forward’ posture or ‘forward head carriage’ posture. Non-Specific Neck Pain is most often caused by continuous forward head carrying posture leading to sub-occipital muscle tightness, decreased cervical mobility and obliterated cervical spine curvature. Forward head posture is commonly adopted by visual display terminal [VDT] workers involving a combination of lower cervical flexion and upper cervical extension. The rotatory motion of C1 and C2 is coupled to a vertical translation of the same two vertebrae. The head is supported by the lower neck and upper back, and it is these areas that commonly cause neck pain. The first three joints in the neck allow for most movement of the neck and head. The lower joints in the neck and those of the upper back create a supportive structure for the head to sit on. If this support system is affected, then the muscles in the area will becometight, causing neck pain. A constant forward head posture reduces the average length of the rectus capitis posterior minor, the superior oblique, rectus capitis posterior major and inferior oblique muscles. It contributes to the development of chronic neck pain. Forward head posture is the anterior positioning of the cervical spine. In this position, head is slightly leaning forward which causes strain in cervical joints and muscles. There will be flexion in lower cervical region and extension in upper cervical region. Question: To determine the efficacy of physiotherapeutic techniques in the treatment of Non-Specific Neck Pain due to Sub-occipital muscle tightness among computer professionals. To systematically compare the efficacy of Active Chin Tucking Exercises and sub occipital muscle release in the treatment of Non-Specific Neck Pain due to Sub-occipital muscle tightness among computer professionals. Design: Comparative Study design Methodology: It is a pre and post-test Experimental study, 20 computer professionals aged between 22 and 30 years who fulfilled inclusion criteria were randomly selected and assigned in to two groups of 10 subjects each. Group A was assigned for Ultrasound Therapy with Active Chin Tucking Exercises and Group B for Ultrasound Therapy with Sub Occipital Muscle release Technique. The study was conducted for a period of 7 days. Pain and neck function were measured before and after intervention by Visual Analog Scale and Copenhagen Neck Function Disability Scale respectively. The data collected from 20 subjects were evaluated statistically. Descriptive analytical study was done by using Paired’ test and Unpaired’ test. Conclusion: It is concluded that there is reduction of pain & there is improvement in Neck function among computer professionals treated with Ultrasound Therapy and Active Chin Tuck Exercise for their neck pain & also in group treated with Ultrasound Therapy and Sub Occipital Muscle Release Technique for their neck pain. It is concluded that combination of Ultrasound Therapy with Active Chin Tuck Exercise training group showed statistically significant improvement & found superior in improving neck function, whereas Ultrasound Therapy with Sub Occipital Muscle Release Technique training group showed statistically significant reduction in pain.