Effect of kinesthetic and visual motor imagery with biofeedback on cervical position sense and balance in patients with mechanical neck pain: Randomized controlled trial.

Study Summary

44 patients with mechanical neck pain were randomized to receive kinesthetic and visual motor imagery training with biofeedback plus conventional physical therapy or conventional physical therapy alone. The primary outcomes were cervical joint position sense error and neck-related disability measured using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Secondary outcomes included balance measured with the Multidirectional Reach Test and pain measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Both groups received 3 treatment sessions per week for 4 weeks. Overall, the results revealed that both groups improved, but the motor imagery group achieved significantly greater reductions in cervical position error, disability, and pain, as well as greater improvements in multidirectional balance. These findings suggest that adding motor imagery with biofeedback may enhance the effects of conventional rehabilitation for mechanical neck pain.