PURPOSE: To evaluate whether long-term neck and upper body exercises conducted in economical community-based outpatient clinic and home-based settings could improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for individuals affected by chronic neck pain. The effect of baseline HRQoL and neck pain values on training adherence was also studied. METHODS: Subjects (n = 101, 91 women/10 men, mean age 41.0 +/- 9.5 years) with chronic non-specific neck pain were randomized to a combined strength-training and stretching-exercise group (CSSG, n = 49) or to a stretching exercise group (SG, n = 52). HRQoL was assessed at baseline and after 12 months using the RAND-36 questionnaire. Comparisons between groups were performed using bootstrap-type analysis of covariance. The impact of HRQoL and neck pain values on training adherence, determined using participants' exercise logs, was studied using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: CSSG showed significant improvements in five and SG in four of eight of the HRQoL dimensions. There were no significant differences between the groups. Adherence to long-term training was only slightly affected by baseline-assessed HRQoL and neck pain values. CONCLUSIONS: The two training protocols were feasible and equally effective in improving HRQoL. Baseline HRQoL and pain values had only a minor effect on training adherence.

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