ObjectiveTo explore the effects of core stable training on cervical vertebrae pain, cervical function and balance ability in patients with neck type cervical spondylopathy (NTCS).MethodsFrom January to August 2018, 98 patients with NTCS were treated. According to the odd and even bed numbers, 49 patients were enrolled in the observation group and 49 were in the control group. The patients in the control group was given Kinesio tape treatment, and the observation group was given core stability training based on the treatment of the control group. Cervical vertebrae pain was assessed by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Clinical Assessment Scale for Cervical Spondylosis (CASCS) and Neck Disability Index (NDI); cervical vertebra activity were used to assess the cervical; the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was used to assess patients’ balance before intervention and at the 4th week of intervention. The incidence of complications during the intervention and the effective of treatment 4 weeks after intervention were recorded. The recurrence rate 6 months after the intervention was recorded.ResultsThere were no significant difference in CASCS, NDI, VAS, and BBS scores between the two groups before intervention (P>0.05). At the 4th week of the intervention, the CASCS and BBS scores of the two groups were higher than those before the intervention, and the VAS and NDI scores were lower than those before the intervention (P<0.05); and the CASCS and BBS scores in observation group at the 4th week of the intervention were higher than that of control group, and VAS and NDI scores were lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the activity of the cervical vertebrae before intervention in both of the two groups (P>0.05). At the 4th week of the intervention, the activity of the cervical vertebrae in all directions was bigger than that of before the intervention in both of the two groups (P<0.05), and that in observation group were bigger than that of the control group (P<0.05). The effective rate at the 4th week in the observation group (95.92%) was higher than that in the control group (81.83%)(P<0.05). The recurrence rate 6 months after intervention in the observation group (6.38%) was lower than that in the control group (22.50%) (P<0.05).ConclusionCore stability training can relieve cervical spondylosis in NTCS patients, and improve the cervical function and patients’ balance; it has high safety and stable efficacy.
ObjectiveTo understand the cervical spine function, core stability and strength of fighter pilots, and to explore the difference of that between fighter pilots with and without neck pain.MethodsFrom October to December 2020, a double-blind design was used to test the cervical spine function, core stability and strength of fighter pilots of a certain part of the Air Force. At the same time, the area of deep cervical flexor and the thickness of transverse abdominis and multifidus muscles were measured. According to the presence or absence of neck pain in the last 3 months, they were divided into neck pain group and non-neck pain group. The cervical spine function, core stability and core strength, deep cervical flexor and transversus abdominis endurance of the two groups were compared and analyzed.ResultsA total of 38 pilots were included. There was no significant difference in age, body mass index, service life, flight time, total flight time and weekly flight time between the neck pain group and the non-neck pain group (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in cervical spine mobility between the two groups of pilots (P>0.05). The cervical flexor muscle strength [(15.5±4.9) vs. (12.1±3.0) N] and the ratio of cervical flexion/neck extension (0.6±0.1 vs. 0.5±0.1) in the non-neck pain group were higher than in the neck pain group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the muscle strength of other superficial cervical muscles between the two groups (P>0.05). The average value of deep neck flexor endurance in the neck pain group [25.36 mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)] better than the non-neck pain group group (17.11 mm Hg) (P=0.026). There was no significant difference in test values of transverse abdominis endurance between the two groups (P>0.05). The left hip internal rotator strength [(11.9±2.6) vs. (10.0±2.1) N] and the left hip external rotator strength [(13.7±2.2) vs. (11.9±2.0) N] in the non-neck pain group were higher than in the neck pain group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the muscle strength of the other hip joint muscles between the two groups (P>0.05). The thickness of the right transversus abdominis in the neck pain group [(1.1±0.3) vs. (0.8±0.3) cm] was higher than that in the non-neck pain group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the thickness of the left transversus abdominis, the cross-sectional area of deep cervical flexor muscle and the thickness of lumbar multifidus muscle between the two groups (P>0.05).ConclusionsFighter pilots with neck pain have superficial cervical flexor muscle strength and decreased left hip internal and external rotation muscle strength, and the superficial cervical flexor and extensor muscle strength is unbalanced. Strengthening the superficial cervical flexor muscle strength, improving the balance between the superficial cervical flexor and extensor muscles, and enhancing the hip internal and external rotator muscle strength may help prevent neck pain.