Effect of Four Weeks Manual Therapy Exercises on Pain and Functional Disability in Young Adult Population with Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain - An Experimental Study

ackground: Chronic non-specific neck pain is a prevalent condition affecting young adults, particularly those engaged in occupations involving prolonged sitting, poor posture, and repetitive strain. This condition can lead to significant pain, functional disability, and decreased quality of life, ultimately impacting productivity and overall well-being. Methodology: This randomized controlled trial included 40 young adults with chronic non-specific neck pain, randomly assigned to either a manual therapy group (n=20) or a therapeutic exercise group (n=20). The manual therapy group received cervical soft tissue facilitated positional release and suboccipital muscle inhibition with scalene stretch. The therapeutic exercise group received isometric neck exercises, chin tuck exercises, and eccentric exercises for neck extensors, both groups receiving treatment for 4 weeks, 5 days a week. Outcome measures included pain intensity (VAS) and functional disability (NDI). Results: Mean age of participants of group A and B were 21.55± 3.36 and 20.15±1.46 years respectively. Group A participants showed marked improvement at VAS and NDI outcome measurement compared to group B. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study provides evidence that both manual therapy and therapeutic exercises are effective treatments for reducing pain and disability in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain. Notably, the findings suggest that manual therapy may have a greater impact on reducing disability, as evidenced by greater improvements in NDI scores. These results have important implications for the development of targeted treatment protocols for patients with chronic non-specific neck pain. Key words: Chronic non-specific neck pain, Manual therapy