The effectiveness of psychologically-informed physiotherapy for people with neck pain and the mediating role of illness perceptions: a replicated single-case experimental design study.

Purpose: (1) To evaluate the effectiveness of personalised psychologically-informed physiotherapy in people with neck pain; (2) To explore the mediating role of changes in illness perceptions.

Method: In this replicated single-case study, 14 patients with non-specific neck pain at risk for chronicity received a personalised intervention addressing unhelpful illness perceptions and dysfunctional movement behaviour, according to principles of cognitive functional therapy. Outcomes included the mediating role of illness perceptions on overall effect, function, pain intensity and self-efficacy.

Exercise into Pain in Chronic Rotator Cuff-Related Shoulder Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial with 6-Month Follow-Up.

Purpose: Exercise therapy is the first-line treatment in rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP), and diverse types of exercise seem effective. However, it is not still clear if painful exercise should be allowed or avoided during exercises. The objective of this study was to investigate if exercise into pain is more effective than no pain in RCRSP.

Does having an external focus in immersive virtual reality increase range of motion in people with neck pain?

Background: When instructing exercises to improve Range of Motion (ROM), clinicians often create an internal focus of attention, while motor performance may improve more when using an external focus.

Objectives: Using Virtual Reality (VR), we investigated the effect of tasks with an internal and external focus on maximal ROM in people with neck pain and explored whether this effect was associated with fear of movement.

Method: In this cross-over experimental design study, the cervical ROM of 54 participants was measured while performing a target-seeking exercise in a VR-environment (external focus task) and during three maximal rotation and flexion-extension movements with the VR-headset on, without signal (internal focus task).

Online Exercise Programs for Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial Reveals Comparable Effects of Global, Local, and Combined Approaches.

Objective: Specific neck exercises are recommended in the rehabilitation of chronic nonspecific neck pain (CNNP). They are unfortunately often accompanied by acute pain flare-ups. Global exercises might be a beneficial addition, as they activate endogenous analgesia without overloading painful structures.