Respiratory Exercises Versus Deep Neck Flexor Training in Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain

This study will be conducted to compare the effect of adding respiratory exercises versus deep neck flexor training to conventional program on pain, cervical ROM, cervical muscle endurance, function, and chest expansion in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain. Sixty-six (66) of both genders ranging in age from 18 to 35 years old, with a history of mechanical neck pain longer than 3 months (chronic neck pain) will be invited to participate in this study. Participants will be randomly assigned into one of the three experimental groups as follow: Group A will receive respiratory exercises in form of diaphragmatic breathing \& respiratory muscle stretch gymnastics plus conventional program. Group B will receive deep neck flexor training in the form of low-load craniocervical flexion using feedback from an air-filled pressure sensor placed behind the neck plus conventional program. Group C (control group) will receive conventional program in form of TENS, infrared, isometric neck strengthening exercises and stretching exercises.