Does adding cognitive-behavioural physiotherapy to exercise improve outcome in patients with chronic neck pain? A randomised controlled trial

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57 patients with chronic neck pain (CNP) were randomized to undergo either a progressive neck exercise program (PNEP) or interactive behavioral modification therapy (IBMT). The purpose of this study was to determine whether the addition of cognitive-behavioral (CB) principles to a standardized exercise regimen would provide greater pain and disability reduction compared to an exercise regimen without CB. Patients were assessed 6 months after the start of treatment. Findings indicated similar improvements in disability and cognitive measures such as pain catastrophizing and pain awareness between the two treatment groups, although pain intensity and cognitive measures such as pain-related fear and functional self-efficacy were significantly improved after IBMT compared to PNEP.