Effect of Endurance Exercise among Filipino Body Builders With Chronic, Non-specific Neck Pain and Disability

Abstract

Neck pain can hamper a bodybuilder’s quest for a bigger body. The study evaluated the effect of endurance exercises on the chronic nonspecific neck pain and disability of bodybuilders. The study used a quantitative multiple time series experimental research design. The subjects were chosen purposively and randomly assigned to either a 4-week neck endurance (experimental group, EG) or usual training (control group, CG). A demographic questionnaire was used in collecting the person and task variables; analog visual scale for the environmental factors, and the Neck Disability Index (NDI) was used in evaluating neck pain and disability. Multiple linear regressions were used in identifying the strongest predictor of NDI while t- test was used to test the hypothesis. Age was the strongest predictor of NDI (r=-0.571, p=0.342). There was a reduction in the NDI score of both the EG and CG, which was statistically significant on the fourth week. A t-test revealed a statistically insignificant result (p=0.124) on the CG while a statistically significant improvement (p=0.000) was found in the EG. A modification of general workout of younger bodybuilders and inclusion of endurance exercises can potentially decrease their risk of neck pain. Keywords - Physical therapy, endurance exercises, neck pain and disability, experimentaltime series, Antipolo City, Philippines