This is the Medscape Medical Minute. I'm Dr. George Lundberg.
Neck muscle pain is increasing in prevalence and severity, especially for computer users. Six Danish investigators report in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism in 2008 a randomized controlled trial of 2 types of physical training on 48 employed women with chronic neck muscle pain.[1] Interventions included 10 weeks of specific strength training for the affected muscle or general fitness training by bicycling with relaxed shoulders, or a reference intervention without physical activity. Specific strength training provided 79% lasting improvements; general fitness training produced only a small and transient reduction in pain. Specific neck muscle strength training works to alleviate chronic neck muscle pain.
This Medscape Medical Minute article is selected from Medscape Best Evidence.[2] I'm Dr. George Lundberg.
Footnotes
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References
- 1.Andersen LL, Kjaer M, Sogaard K, Hansen L, Kryger AI, Sjogaard G. Effect of two contrasting types of physical exercise on chronic neck muscle pain. Arthritis Rheum. 2008;59:84–91. doi: 10.1002/art.23256. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Rheumatology Medscape Best Evidence. Powered by McMaster Plus. Available at: http://www.medscape.com/pages/features/newsletters/bestevidence/rheumatology Accessed April 4, 2008.