In 2008, a randomized clinical trial led by Ana Cláudia Violino Cunha and colleagues, the effectiveness of two distinct stretching techniques in addressing chronic neck pain among women was investigated. The study, aimed to compare the outcomes of conventional static stretching with muscle chain stretching, as part of global posture reeducation, in conjunction with manual therapy.

Thirty-three female participants, aged 35 to 60, were enrolled in the trial, with 31 completing the program. These participants were randomly assigned to either the global posture reeducation group (n=15), which underwent muscle chain stretching, or the conventional stretching group (n=16), performing static muscle stretching. Both groups received manual therapy in addition to their assigned stretching regimen.

Throughout the six-week treatment period, participants attended two individual 1-hour sessions per week. Assessments were conducted before and after the treatment, as well as during a six-week follow-up appointment, measuring pain intensity (using a visual analog scale), range of motion (via goniometry), and health-related quality of life (assessed through the SF-36 questionnaire).

The findings revealed significant reductions in pain and improvements in range of motion following treatment for both groups, although these benefits slightly diminished by the follow-up assessment. Quality of life also showed enhancement post-treatment, although one domain in the global posture reeducation group exhibited no improvement. However, at the follow-up assessment, improvements were noted across all domains, albeit with both groups reporting increased pain.

Notably, the study found no significant differences between the two stretching methods in terms of their effectiveness.

In conclusion, the study suggests that both conventional static stretching and muscle chain stretching, when combined with manual therapy, are equally effective in alleviating pain and enhancing range of motion and quality of life in female patients suffering from chronic neck pain. These results underscore the importance of incorporating stretching exercises into the treatment regimen for individuals with chronic neck pain.

Reference: Cunha, A. C. V., Burke, T. N., França, F. J. R., & Marques, A. P. (2008). Effect of global posture reeducation and of static stretching on pain, range of motion, and quality of life in women with chronic neck pain: a randomized clinical trial. Clinics, 63, 763-770.