PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of cervical exercise on neck pain, disability, and psychosocial factors in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder. SUBJECTS: Thirty patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, who also complained of neck pain. METHODS: The cervical exercise group (n = 15) participated in cervical exercises for 30 min, 3 times/week for 6 weeks, and the control group (n = 16) underwent conventional physical therapy alone, without exercise. The exercises were performed in the following order: cervical relaxation, local muscle stabilization, and global muscle stabilization using a sling system. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the cervical exercise group demonstrated significant decreases as follows: visual analogue scale score 4.2 versus 1.0; Neck Disability Index 3.9 versus 1.9; and depression on the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised 9.4 versus 4.3 and on the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 6.3 versus 2.8. However, anxiety on the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (3.1 versus 1.3) was not significantly different. Effect sizes were as follows: visual analogue scale score 1.8; Neck Disability Index 0.9; depression 1.0; and anxiety on Symptom Checklist-90-Revised and Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 0.6 and 0.8, respectively. CONCLUSION: Cervical exercise is effective in improving neck pain, disability, and efficacy of psychological treatment for depression in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder.

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