Effectiveness of Postural Training and Correction Techniques for Neck Pain: A Systematic Review
Keywords:
Disability, Neck pain, Multimodal approach, Posture, Pain managementAbstract
Background: Neck pain represents a significant global health burden, affecting more than 50% of adults yearly. Postural training and correction techniques are common interventions, yet the relative effectiveness of these remains unclear. Thus, this systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of postural training and correction techniques in reducing pain intensity and improving functional outcomes in adults with neck pain.
Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines across thePubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PEDro, and Cochrane Library databases for randomized controlled trials published between 2010 and 2023 that examined postural training and correction techniques in adults with neck pain. Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2.0 evaluated therisk of bias, and evidence quality was rated through the GRADE methodology.
Results: A total of 8 RCTs (n=1,247 participants) were identified from 487 studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Interventions varied widely, including proprioceptivetraining, ergonomic education, and specific therapeutic exercises using postural correction techniques, global postural re-education, and workplace-based interventions. High-quality evidence supports that multimodal approaches were more beneficial in reducing pain and avoiding neck disability than specific therapeutic exercises and postural education as single-component techniques.
Conclusions: Multimodal approaches that combine several treatment components, including postural training, specific strengthening exercises, and education, showan improved effect for the management of neck pain compared with single-component techniques. Future research should focus on standardizing the appropriate methods in the patient treatment protocols and determining the varying sub-groups of patients responding to different postural correction approaches
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