Effects of an integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique program on neck muscle strength and endurance in individuals with chronic mechanical neck pain

• Published in: Journal of bodywork and movement therapies 2019-07, Vol.23 (3), p.643-651
• Main Authors: Lytras, Dimitrios, Sykaras, Evaggelos, Christoulas, Kosmas, Myrogiannis, Ioannis, Kellis, Eleftherios
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chronic mechanical neck pain; Exercise; Integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique
• ISSN: 1360-8592; 1532-9283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2019.01.004

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the application of the integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique (INIT) combined with therapeutic exercise (TE) can provide faster and greater improvement in maximum isometric strength and isometric endurance of the neck muscles in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain (CMNP). In this 10-week, single-blind clinical trial, 40 participants (men and women) with CMNP were divided into two groups. The intervention group (IG) followed a TE program in combination with the INIT, while the control group (CG) followed the same TE program without the INIT technique. Changes in maximum isometric strength and isometric endurance of the neck muscles were evaluated before, during, and after the intervention, with follow-up measurements taken at 1, 3, and 6 months after the intervention. Analysis of variance with repeated measures was applied. Both groups showed a significant improvement in all dependent measures after the intervention (p