Need of Study 

Neck pain is a common health problem that is associated with significant level of disability. It has been associated with decreased health related quality of life (HRQ0L) in several studies. Change in workplace environment with reliance on technologies for work and predominantly sedentary life style could be possible factors of the high prevalence of neck pain. Chronic mechanical neck pain represents the vast majority of cases contributing to substantial health care costs, work absenteeism, and loss of productivity at all levels of employment. In order to decrease this social burden of disability, the use of interventions with demonstrated efficacy for specific outcomes is clearly essential. There are numerous treatment options in literature for conservatively managing chronic neck pain that varies from passive rest, electro-therapeutic modalities like therapeutic ultrasound, passive techniques to active exercises. Exercise is recommended as an effective way of managing neck pain disorders and has been shown to be more effective in comparison to more passive interventions. There is also evidence that both strengthening and endurance regimens have superior benefits over other form of activities, such as stretching or massage techniques. Dynamic exercises are superior than isometric exercise as it involves movement of the joints, resulting in capsular, ligamentous and muscular flexibility and increased cartilage nutrition. Muscle strengthening occurs in all joint ranges achieved during the exercise and results in functionally more efficient muscle-joint complex. Several  researchers have found beneficial effect of dynamic strengthening exercises of neck muscles to reduce neck pain and improve neck function. Similarly, researchers have also found positive effect of dynamic endurance training in individuals with mechanical neck pain. But studies regarding comparison of these exercises, for their relative effectiveness are limited.  Therefore, the need of this study is to find out whether anyone of this intervention is superior to another or both have same efficacy to reduce neck pain and improve neck function.

Research question

Is there any difference in effectiveness of dynamic strength training and dynamic endurance training in reducing neck pain and improving function in patients with mechanical neck pain?

Null Hypothesis

There is no significant difference in effectiveness of dynamic strength training and dynamic endurance training in reducing neck pain and improving function in patients with mechanical neck pain.

Alternative hypothesis

There is significant difference in effectiveness of dynamic strength training and dynamic endurance training in reducing neck pain and improving function in patients with mechanical neck pain.

Methodology

Patients will be recruited from an OPD of tertiary hospital. Written consent will be taken from each patient after explanation of procedure. Patient will be allocated to either dynamic neck strength or dynamic neck endurance training. Baseline neck pain and neck disability will be assessed using Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and Neck Disability Index (NDI). Patient will receive the allocated treatment for 2 weeks under direct supervision of investigator. after completion of 2 weeks of regimen NPRS and NDI will be taken as outcome. 

Statistical analysis: Paired t-test will be used to test significant difference between pre and Post NPRS and NDI within the groups. Student’s t-test will be used to test the significant difference in the NPRS and NDI between the two groups.