OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether isometric neck extension exercise restores physiological cervical lordosis and reduces pain. DESIGN: Sixty-five patients with loss of cervical lordosis were randomly assigned to exercise (27 women, 7 men; mean age 32.82 +/- 8.83 yrs) and control (26 women, 5 men; mean age 33.48 +/- 9.67 yrs) groups. Both groups received nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for 10 days. The exercise group received additional therapy as a home exercise program, which consisted of isometric neck extension for 3 mos. Neck pain severity and cervical lordosis were measured at baseline and at 3 mos after baseline. RESULTS: Compared with baseline levels, cervical lordosis angle was significantly improved in the exercise group (p < 0.001) but not in the control group (p = 0.371) at the end of 3 mos. Moreover, the exercise group was significantly superior to the control group considering the number of patients in whom cervical lordosis angle returned to physiological conditions (85.2% versus 22.5%; p < 0.001). At the end of 3 mos, pain intensity was significantly reduced in both groups compared with baseline levels (for all, p < 0.001). Nevertheless, considering the change from baseline to month 3, the reduction in pain was about twice in the exercise group compared with the control group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Isometric neck extension exercise improves cervical lordosis and pain.

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