Effect of neck rehabilitation exercise and breathing exercise on visual complaints in individuals with idiopathic chronic neck pain

Abstract

Background: Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders and a leading cause of disability. Chronic neck pain causes hyperalgesia in soft tissues around the neck, and in severe cases, it leads to restriction of daily life activities. The excessive stress caused by the chronic pain leads to cervico-ocular gain, leading to a mismatch of reflexes that determine the gaze and vision. Chronic neck pain also alters the cervicothoracic kinematic change and length-tension changes in neck muscles and leads to decreased thoracic cage mobility. This leads to respiratory insufficiency in patients with chronic neck pain, which is similar to the changes that occur in cases of a neuromuscular disorder. Objective: The objective of this study was to find the effect of neck rehabilitation exercises and breathing exercises on visual complaints in individuals with idiopathic chronic neck pain. Materials and Methods: Thirty individuals with idiopathic chronic neck pain of both sexes ranging from 20 to 35 years were included according to the selection criteria and divided into two groups. Group A (n = 15) received the intervention for neck pain, whereas Group B (n = 15) did not receive any interventions. Outcome Measures: Neck disability Index, Visual Complain Index and NPRS are used as outcome measures. Results: Statistical analysis was done using SBM SPSS software version 20, which showed that there was a significant improvement in NDI in the experimental group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study concludes that there is a significant effect of neck rehabilitation exercises and breathing exercises on visual complaints in individuals with idiopathic chronic neck pain.