Effects of Clinical Pilates Exercises and Massage Therapy on Neck Range of Motion in Individuals with Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain

Paper ID : 1085-SPORTCONGRESS (R2)

Authors

shahnaz sharjerdi1, maryamsadat سادات abdollahi mousavi *2 1هییت علمی 2دانشگاه اراک

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of Pilates exercises and massage therapy on the neck range of motion in individuals with chronic nonspecific neck pain. Methods: This study employed a pretest–posttest design with two experimental groups and one control group. The participants included all middle-aged women aged 35 to 55 years with chronic nonspecific neck pain in Tehran in 2023, selected through purposive sampling. A total of 45 participants were divided into two experimental groups (15 each) and one control group (15). Clinical Pilates exercises and massage therapy sessions were conducted twice a week for six weeks. The control group received no intervention during the six weeks, and after this period, the variables were measured again. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and Bonferroni post hoc tests. All statistical analyses were performed at a significance level of α = 0.05 using SPSS version 27. Results: The results showed that both clinical Pilates exercises and massage therapy significantly improved neck range of motion (p = 0.001). Moreover, there was a significant difference between the effects of clinical Pilates exercises and massage therapy on neck range of motion (F(2,41) = 92.201, P < 0.001, η² = 0.818), indicating that massage therapy had a greater effect. Conclusion: Based on these results, it is recommended that women with chronic nonspecific neck pain use massage therapy and clinical Pilates exercises to improve their neck range of motion.

Keywords

Pilates, massage therapy, neck range of motion, chronic nonspecific neck pain.

Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation)