Comparative effect of neck and scapular stabilization exercises on clinical variables of individuals with non-specific neck pain

Abstract Background Non-specific neck pain (NsNP) constitutes a significant global health burden, and finding effective treatment remains a challenge to physiotherapists. Neck stabilization exercises (NSE) have been documented to be effective in the management of NsNP; however, there is limited information on the comparative effectiveness of scapular stabilization exercises (ScSE) and NSE in the management of NsNP. The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of NSE and ScSE on pain intensity (PI) and neck disability (ND) of individuals with NsNP. Methods The clinical trial involved 70 participants with NsNP recruited consecutively and randomized into three groups. Group (G) A (control group, n = 22) received physiotherapy usual care (PUC), Group B (NSEG, n = 23) received NSE plus PUC, and Group C (ScSEG, n = 22) received ScSE plus PUC. Treatment was administered thrice weekly for eight weeks. Pain intensity (PI) and neck disability (ND) were assessed at baseline, week 4, and week 8 of the study using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Neck Disability Index (NDI), respectively. Analysis was done using repeated measures ANOVA, Friedman ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test at p = 0.05. Results Participants in the three groups were comparable in age (PUCG = 52.97 ± 13.48 years, NSEG = 53.43 ± 10.72 years, and ScSEG = 52.86 ± 13.76 years). PI (PUCG = 6.36 ± 1.33, NSEG = 5.96 ± 1.71, and ScSEG = 6.18 ± 1.5; p = 0.67) and ND (PUCG = 34(25–48), NSEG = 32(18–44), and ScSEG = 36(23–51); p = 0.88) of the participants were also comparable at baseline. Within-group comparison of PI and ND of participants in the three groups across baseline, 4th and 8th weeks of the study revealed a significant reduction in PI and ND ( p < 0.05). The mean reduction from baseline to 8th weeks for PI was 4.11, 2.54, and 1.36, while the median reduction for ND was 28, 26, and 12 across the three groups of NSEG, ScSEG, and PUCG, respectively. Between-groups comparison indicated significant differences in PI and ND at the 4th and 8th weeks of the study, with NSEG showing more reduction compared with ScSEG and PUCG ( p ≤ 0.01). Conclusion The study showed that while both NSE and ScSE interventions were effective, NSE provided a greater reduction in pain and disability for NsNP. Trial registration PACTR, PACTR202304493866557, Registered on 28 April 2023, http://pactr.samrc.ac.za/ .