Comparing the immediate effects of McKenzie exercise and rest on pain and disability index of the neck and shoulder during smartphone texting

Objectives: Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders among smartphone users. The purpose of the present study was to compare the immediate effects of rest and McKenzie exercise on pain level and disability index among individuals who complained of pain and discomfort in the neck after using a smartphone. Methods: Ten males and 14 females with an average age of 25.71 years, who complained of pain and discomfort in the neck after using a smartphone, participated in this clinical trial study. During two consecutive days, they received conservative interventions including rest and Mackenzie exercise. The duration of each intervention was one session. The level of pain and disability was measured with the visual analog scale (VAS) and the neck disability index questionnaire before starting the treatment (immediately after using the smartphone), and after performing rest interventions and McKenzie exercises. ANOVA analyzed the data with repeated measures (p<0.05). Results: Subjects reported lower levels of pain and disability following both intervention methods (rest and McKenzie exercise) compared to before the start of the treatment period. The Cohen's d effect size index showed the effectiveness of Mackenzie's exercise compared to the resting condition on the level of pain and disability. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that McKenzie's exercise can more effectively decrease the amount of pain and disability in the neck and shoulder areas following the use of a smartphone compared to rest.