Thirty teachers (24 females and 6 males) aged group 25 to 45 years participated in this
study. The subjects were teachers of the Central Board of Secondary Education affiliated
schools who had more than 5 years of experience. The teachers were included if they had a
neck pain score on the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) of greater than 5, mild to moderate
disability scores on the neck disability Index (NDI) and poor CCF test results. Subjects
were excluded if they had undergone any cervical spine surgery or reported any neurological
signs. Subjects with a history of congenital or acquired postural deformity, spinal cord
compression, tumor, instability, fracture, inflammatory disease or infection were also
excluded.
The proposal for the study was presented before the Review Committee of Hamdard University
and received approval.
A pretest, posttest experimental group design was used in the study. After selection,
subjects were randomly allocated to one of the two groups with 15 subjects in each: Group A:
the experimental group received deep cervical flexor muscles training with pressure
biofeedback and conventional exercises. Group B: the control group received deep cervical
flexor muscles training with only conventional exercises.
The independent variable in the study was DCF muscles training and the dependent variables
were pain (P) on NPRS, and functional disability (D) on NDI.
We used a pressure stabilizer, Pressure Biofeedback Unit (Stabilizer TM, Chattanooga Group,
INC., Chattanooga, TN), a height adjustable bed, markers and papers.
A letter was sent to the principals of CBSE affiliated schools with details of the research
and their consent was obtained. The study was conducted on school premises in the medical
room. The teachers were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Then, their
informed consent was sought. Selected subjects were randomly allocated to the two groups.
Subjects were informed about nature and procedure of study and all their questions were
answered.
Baseline information of the dependent variables was taken at the beginning of study, on day
1 (P0, D0), before commencement of the training protocol. Data were collected at the end of
2 weeks of training (P14, D14) and at the end of 4 weeks (P28, D38). NPRS and NDI were used
to evaluate the level of pain and functional disability, respectively.
Both experimental and control groups performed conventional exercises. In addition the
experimental group also performed deep cervical flexor muscles training using pressure
biofeedback. The exercise session was conducted under the supervision of the examiner.
Subjects were asked not to receive any other specific intervention for neck pain. Training
was done for 4 weeks, 4 days a week with 2 minutes rest between sets. Exercise duration did
not exceed 20 minutes per day. The CCFT exercise program included 3 sets in a session 10
repetitions per set.
The data was analyzed using SPSS software. The independent t test was used to compare age
and baseline values of pain and disability between groups. The paired t test was used to
compare pain on NPRS and Disability on NDI within groups. All dependent variables were
compared between baseline, their values at 2 weeks and their values at end of 4 weeks. The
independent t test was used to compare pain on NPRS and disability on NDI between the
groups. The values of both groups, group A and group B, were compared at baseline and for
the difference from baseline, at the end of 2 weeks and at the end of 4 weeks. We used 95%
CI and the results were accepted as significant if p< 0.05.
study. The subjects were teachers of the Central Board of Secondary Education affiliated
schools who had more than 5 years of experience. The teachers were included if they had a
neck pain score on the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) of greater than 5, mild to moderate
disability scores on the neck disability Index (NDI) and poor CCF test results. Subjects
were excluded if they had undergone any cervical spine surgery or reported any neurological
signs. Subjects with a history of congenital or acquired postural deformity, spinal cord
compression, tumor, instability, fracture, inflammatory disease or infection were also
excluded.
The proposal for the study was presented before the Review Committee of Hamdard University
and received approval.
A pretest, posttest experimental group design was used in the study. After selection,
subjects were randomly allocated to one of the two groups with 15 subjects in each: Group A:
the experimental group received deep cervical flexor muscles training with pressure
biofeedback and conventional exercises. Group B: the control group received deep cervical
flexor muscles training with only conventional exercises.
The independent variable in the study was DCF muscles training and the dependent variables
were pain (P) on NPRS, and functional disability (D) on NDI.
We used a pressure stabilizer, Pressure Biofeedback Unit (Stabilizer TM, Chattanooga Group,
INC., Chattanooga, TN), a height adjustable bed, markers and papers.
A letter was sent to the principals of CBSE affiliated schools with details of the research
and their consent was obtained. The study was conducted on school premises in the medical
room. The teachers were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Then, their
informed consent was sought. Selected subjects were randomly allocated to the two groups.
Subjects were informed about nature and procedure of study and all their questions were
answered.
Baseline information of the dependent variables was taken at the beginning of study, on day
1 (P0, D0), before commencement of the training protocol. Data were collected at the end of
2 weeks of training (P14, D14) and at the end of 4 weeks (P28, D38). NPRS and NDI were used
to evaluate the level of pain and functional disability, respectively.
Both experimental and control groups performed conventional exercises. In addition the
experimental group also performed deep cervical flexor muscles training using pressure
biofeedback. The exercise session was conducted under the supervision of the examiner.
Subjects were asked not to receive any other specific intervention for neck pain. Training
was done for 4 weeks, 4 days a week with 2 minutes rest between sets. Exercise duration did
not exceed 20 minutes per day. The CCFT exercise program included 3 sets in a session 10
repetitions per set.
The data was analyzed using SPSS software. The independent t test was used to compare age
and baseline values of pain and disability between groups. The paired t test was used to
compare pain on NPRS and Disability on NDI within groups. All dependent variables were
compared between baseline, their values at 2 weeks and their values at end of 4 weeks. The
independent t test was used to compare pain on NPRS and disability on NDI between the
groups. The values of both groups, group A and group B, were compared at baseline and for
the difference from baseline, at the end of 2 weeks and at the end of 4 weeks. We used 95%
CI and the results were accepted as significant if p< 0.05.
