A study of Short-Term Effects of Using Shoulder-Posture-Corrector Belts Combined with Stretching Exercise in the Management of Chronic Neck Pain in Office Workers: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Jakrapat Sawatruang; Santi  Assawapalangchai

Authors

Jakrapat Sawatruang Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2094-6052
Santi Assawapalangchai Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2679-5238

Keywords:

neck pain, shoulder brace, muscle stretching exercises, office workers

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the short-term effects of combining shoulder-posture-corrector belts with stretching exercise in the management of chronic neck pain in office workers, compared with stretching exercise alone.

Study design: Single-blind randomized controlled trial

Setting: Outpatient Unit, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Thailand

Subjects: Sixty patients, aged 20 to 50, with a moderate degree of nonspecific neck pain lasting for at least three months

Methods: Sixty participants were randomly assigned to a control group or an intervention group. All participants were instructed to perform a neck stretching program at home for two weeks. The intervention group received the additional use of the shoulder-posture-corrector belts while sitting at work for two weeks. The primary outcome was the improvement in the management of chronic neck pain, measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes were evaluated using the Neck Disability Index-Thai version (NDI-TH) score, cervical range of motion (CROM), and craniovertebral angle (CVA). Data collection also included compliance, satisfaction, and adverse effects. The outcome measurement was evaluated at baseline and after two weeks.

Results: The study outcomes revealed no statistically significant differences between groups in terms of VAS, NDI-TH (total) scores, CROM (all movement directions), or CVA (p = 0.244, 0.140, 0.119–0.836, and 0.207, respectively). The intervention group demon-strated greater improvements than the control group, with a statistically significant difference only in NDI-TH (pain domain) score (p = 0.010). However, both groups showed improvements in VAS, NDI-TH (pain domain), and NDI-TH (total) scores (p < 0.05). Regarding patients’ compliance and satisfaction, subjects from both groups showed comparable good compliance and satisfaction. There were no serious adverse effects reported by either group.

Conclusions: The use of shoulder-posture-corrector belts combined with stretching exercises demonstrated a significant improvement only in the pain domain of the Thai version of the Neck Disability Index (NDI-TH) compared with stretching exercises alone in the management of chronic neck pain in office workers after two weeks of treatment.

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