Effects of global postural re-rducation versus specific therapeutic exercises on pain, head posture, and pain-related psychosocial factors in women with chronic nonspecific neck pain: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Background: The aim of this trial is to compare the effects of two types of exercises, Global Postural Re-education versus specific therapeutic exercises on pain perception, pain threshold to pressure, psychosocial factors associated with pain, and craniocervical posture in women with chronic nonspecific neck pain. Methods: This study is a randomized, parallel-group, single-blind clinical trial. Fifty-two women with chronic nonspecific neck pain (two excluded) were recruited and randomly assigned to (n = 25) Global Postural Re-education and (n = 25) specific therapeutic exercises. Interventions were carried out for 4 weeks, two sessions per week, and were combined with a daily home exercise program. Numerical Pain Rating Scale, mechanosensitivity to pressure, kinesiophobia, pain catastrophizing, and craniocervical angle were assessed in two pre-intervention assessments, one week apart, and at 2 and 4 weeks after the start of the intervention. Results: Global Postural Re-education was as effective as specific therapeutic exercises, showing improvements in all variables assessed with significant intra-group differences over time and high effect sizes (ŋp2 > 0.157 for all variables). Conclusions: Global Postural Re-education is as effective as a specific therapeutic exercise program in reducing subjective pain perception, local and remote mechanosensitivity, and short-term pain-related psychosocial factors in women with chronic nonspecific neck pain.