Benjamin Konigsberg - Orthopedic Department
Many people experience chronic neck pain throughout their lives, causing a hindrance to
everyday activities and a reduction in lifespan. Studies have shown that about 37% of people
develop chronic- nonspecific neck pain (CNSNP) in their lifetime, and that number is growing.
CNSNP is especially prevalent among college students and people who experience long
exposure to electronics (Sun et al., 2024). While physical therapists can provide effective
methods for neck pain relief, the chronic nature of CNSNP means that patients constantly suffer, so an at-home exercise regimen could provide a solution to this uncomfortable condition. In Sun et al., 2024, patients were given three different kinds of neck and spine exercise and mobility regimens. The results of their training were measured using a pain scale along with neck strength and endurance, and quality of life. The study found that a combination of neck and spinal mobility exercises significantly decreased pain in adults with CNSNP.
Exercise is an inexpensive and effective way of preventing pain by strengthening muscles and joints that are prone to high amounts of stress. In this increasingly busy world, people do not have time for pricy, debilitating surgeries that take weeks or months to recover. This study brings light to the importance of exercise, not only as a preventative measure but also as a treatment for pain. Additionally, most of the exercises used by the study require little to no equipment, making them especially easy to do at home or implemented into a daily workout schedule. Further research in this field may provide enough information to create an exercise program for other types of chronic non-specific pain, thus improving the quality of life of many people. With the increasingly sedentary lifestyle of the modern world, these at-home exercises can relieve pain and increase lifespan.
References:
Sun X, Chai L, Huang Q, Zhou H, Liu H. Effects of exercise combined with cervicothoracic spine self-mobilization on chronic non-specific neck pain. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):5298. Published 2024 Mar 4. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-55181-8024-55181-8
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