Exercise that Decreases Pain?

[Jason Silvernail]

Hi everybody.

Just found this:

Cervical Exercise that Reduces Pain (http://webducate.typepad.com/physiospot_msk/2007/07/specific-therap.html)

What are your thoughts regarding this study?

[bernard]

What is the differences between CCF and CF?

[Jon Newman]

HI Jason,

This sounds interesting but it I'll have to wait for the full text to provide too many insights.

Hi Bernard,

I can only offer my interpretation that one of the exercises probably looks more like a Feldenkrais type exercise and the other looks more like a contest someone would enter in order to win immunity on Survivor.

[Diane]

The study seems to suggest at least one implication (that stood out for me) - that people don't necessarily require manipulation for neck pain relief, that exercise can be sufficient.

[Mike T Nelson]

Here is the study and another interesting one.
Thanks for the post
Mike N

[nari]

Umm...the effect of CCF and CF exercises (read movements) for pain has been known since the 1980s. This is McKenzie stuff.

I am surprised that it has taken PT researchers so long to verify what has been observed clinically for over 20 years??

CCF 'nodding' has immediate pain relief effects if done accurately. But I do not think it has anything to do with joints.....and I don't know how long the analgesic effect lasts. Empirically, the movements also reduce mild to moderate head pain as well as cervical pain and stiffness.

Maybe I'm missing something.

Nari

[bernard]

What are your thoughts regarding this study?

I can't compare CCF and CF since there is an huge difference in needed strength between the two exercices.

[Randy Dixon]

Diane,

The study said that manual therapy and exercise had different effects and so were complimentary, which would also suggest that one can't supplant the other.

[Sarah]

It makes sense that cranio-cervical flexion (head nod) is a neural glide for the cord and upper peripheral nerves. It also makes sense from reading Shacklock how this could mechanically and chemically modulate pain. I think it's very interesting that no SNS changes were measured. In the clinic, I use the CCF for deep neck flexor re-ed with the biofeedback cuff but not for desensitizing the nervous system...cervical rotation seems to work better for that.... Any thoughts on this?