Eficácia dos exercícios de estabilização neuromuscular na melhora da dor de origem mecânica e função da coluna cervical em indivíduos adultos: uma revisão integrativa

Abstract

Introduction: The mechanical cervical pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder and an expensive matter of public health, being, worldwide, one of the main causes for people to live with a functional incapacity. The deep neck stabilizing muscles, which are placed along the head and along the neck, show signs of inhibition in people with this kind of pain. The dynamic stability theory as a fundamental concept in these dysfunctions has been increasing its scientific support over the past few years. Objective: To describe if literature shows effectiveness of the low intensity neuromuscular stabilization exercises that stimulate the deep muscles on the pain of mechanical source and on the function of the cervical spine in adult individuals. Methods: The present study consists of an integrative review of the literature in randomized and controlled clinical studies. The searches for articles, completed between the months of May and September of 2018, were conducted on the following databases: MEDLINE, PEDro, LILACS, SciELO, in both English and Portuguese languages. Results: 10 articles were included in this review, according to the previously established inclusion criteria. There are some evidences that the low intensity neuromuscular stabilization exercises on the craniocervical muscles can immediately reduce neck pain and have an effect on postural correction of the cervical spine. However, there are no evidences of significant differences between the stabilization exercises and the progressive resistance training, proprioceptive training and isometric training. Conclusion: The intervention based on specific stability exercises contributes successfully to the improvement of mechanical source pain, function and cervical spine posture on adult individuals.