This study aimed to determine the effect of lower trapezius muscle strengthening exercises on pain, neck disability index (NDI), cervical range of motion (ROM), and lower trapezius muscle strength in patients with unilateral neck pain. Following baseline measurements, the subjects (N=40) with unilateral neck pain were randomized into one of two 5 weeks exercise intervention groups: a experimental group (EG, n1=20) that received strength training of the lower trapezius muscles or a control group (CG, n2=20) that received routine physical therapy program. Each group participated in the intervention for 30 minutes, 3 times a week, for 5 weeks. All participants performed 2 repetitions of each intervention per day. The numeric pain rating scale for pain, NDI, ROM, and lower trapezius strength were recorded both pre- and post-intervention for both groups. Paired t-tests were used to determine significant changes post-intervention compared with pre-intervention and independent t-tests were used to analyze differences in the dependent variables between the 2 groups. After the 5-weeks intervention, both groups experienced significantly decreased pain and disability level (p<.05) and significantly increased cervical flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation ROM (p<.05). The EG that received strength training of the lower trapezius muscles showed greater improvements in pain and functional disability level, cervical rotation, and lower trapezius strength than the CG (p<.05). These results suggest that a lower trapezius strengthening exercises reduce neck pain and neck disability level and enhance cervical ROM and lower trapezius strength level in patients with unilateral neck pain.

 Ⅰ. 서론  Ⅱ. 연구방법   1. 연구대상자   2. 실험절차   3. 중재방법   4. 측정도구 및 방법   5. 분석방법  Ⅲ. 결과   1. 연구대상자의 일반적 특성   2. 두 군의 중재 전후에 통증수준과 기능장애수준 비교   3. 두 군의 중재 전후에 관절가동범위 비교   4. 두 군의 중재 전후에 하승모근 근력 비교  Ⅳ. 고찰  Ⅴ. 결론  References

• 김기용(대전대학교 대학원 물리치료학과) | Kim, Ki-Yong
• 김선엽( 대전대학교 자연과학대학 물리치료학과) | 김선엽