Clinical Research Directory

Whole-Body Vibration vs. Exercises for Chronic Neck Pain in Young Adults

Chronic neck pain is a prevalent issue among young adults, potentially impacting pain levels, range of motion, posture, balance, and daily functional activities. This study is designed to compare two distinct physical therapy interventions for young individuals diagnosed with chronic non-specific neck pain: Whole-Body Vibration (WBV), involving standing on a vibrating platform, and Sensorimotor Exercise (SME), which focuses on improving neck awareness, coordination, balance, and motor control. The primary objective is to determine whether one of these therapeutic approaches is more effective than the other in enhancing neck-related sensorimotor function, reducing pain intensity, and improving overall functional capacity over a 4-week intervention period. The study population consists of male and female university students aged 18 to 30 years presenting with chronic neck pain. The investigators anticipate that while both intervention protocols may yield clinical benefits, the comparative results will demonstrate which method provides superior short-term improvements in pain management and cervical function.

Health Benefits of Whole-body Vibration

The overall goals of this pilot investigation are to determine 1) the feasibility of conducting home based WBV studies, and 2) to determine if sub-acute home based WBV can improve a) exercise capacity, b) conduit- and micro- vascular function, and c) skeletal muscle function.