EFFECT OF NECK STABILIZATION VERSUS PILATES EXERCISES ON PAIN, QUALITY OF LIFE AND KINESIOPHOBIA IN FEMALE OFFICE WORKERS WITH NON SPECIFIC CHRONIC NECK PAIN:A RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL.

Neck pain is a progressive and disabling musculoskeletal difficulty characterized by stiffness, functional limitations and movement restrictions.Objective: To determine the effects of neck stabilization versus pilates exercises on pain, quality of life and kinesophobia in female office workers with non-specific chronic neck pain.Material and Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at the physiotherapy department of Lifeline Health Care and Imaging Center, Lahore. Female office workers aged 25-50 years with active pain for more than three months and pain intensity exceeding or up to 5/10 on the numeric pain rating scale were included. Seventy patients were equally distributed into two groups neck stabilization exercises group and the pilates exercises Group. The numeric pain rating scale measured the pain, quality of life with the SPF 12 questionnaire and kinesophobia with the Tampa scale. The patients were treated three times a week for six weeks. Data were collected at week one and week 6.Results: The data were normally distributed at week 1 in both groups. The neck stabilization exercise in group A and pilates exercises in group B were compared at weeks 1 and 6. Pain, quality of life and kinesophobia improved at week six compared to week 1 in both groups. This study showed there was no significant difference between both groups. Conclusions: Group neck stabilization and pilates exercise significantly decrease pain, and improve quality of life and kinesophobia (p≤;0.05).