Lars L. Andersen, Michael KjÆr, Karen SØgaard, Lone Hansen, Ann I. Kryger, Gisela SjØgaar
The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of specific strength training of the painful muscle versus general fitness training without direct involvement of the painful muscle (leg bicycling) on work-related neck muscle pain. Forty-eight employed women with chronic neck muscle pain were randomly assigned to 10 weeks of specific strength training locally for the affected muscle, general fitness training performed as leg bicycling with relaxed shoulders, or a reference intervention without physical activity. A significant decrease in the VAS pain score over a 10-week period was seen with specific strength training, whereas an acute and transient decrease in pain was found with general fitness training.
The results show that specific strength training had high clinical relevance and led to marked prolonged relief in neck muscle pain where as general fitness training showed only a small yet statistically significant acute pain reduction.
Arthritis Research & Care, 59(1), 84-91