Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation therapy versus manual therapy in patients with neck pain: a randomised controlled trial.

研究概要

Ninety-three women with cervical pain due to osteoarthritis were randomized into two groups: one received proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) therapy (n=40) and the other manual therapy (MAN.T) (n=40). The primary outcome measured was the improvement in activities of daily living (ADL) using the Oswestry Disability Index. Secondary outcomes included pain measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and range of motion (ROM) using standardized measures. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 2 weeks, and 3 months post-treatment. Overall, the study revealed that the PNF group showed significantly greater improvements in ADL, pain reduction, and ROM at both follow-up points compared to the MAN.T group (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that PNF therapy may offer superior benefits for managing cervical pain and associated functional impairments in this population.