BACKGROUND: Neck pain and disability is a significant public health problem with only very few evidence-based treatment option. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of isometric exercise on pain and disability of cervical spondylosis. METHODS: Twenty four patients with cervical osteoarthritis and neck pain (22 females and 2 males; mean age 46.70 +/- 13.71 years) were recruited and randomly allocated into 2 arms: neck isometric exercises (n = 12) and conservative management without exercise (n = 12). The Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Neck Pain and Disability Scale (NPAD) were used to assess participants at baseline and after 4 weeks. RESULTS: Basic characteristics, NDI score and NPAD score were not significantly different between groups at baseline. The exercise arm demonstrated significantly lower scores regarding NDI (mean 17.41 versus 25.58; p-value = 0.035) and NPAD (mean 25.33 versus 66.67; p < 0.001), compared to the control arm after 4 weeks. The exercise arm also showed significant within group reduction considering NDI and NPAD scores after 4 weeks (Both p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that isometric exercises might be a beneficial treatment for improving pain and disability caused by cervical spondylosis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered at irct.ir (Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials) with the code IRCT20220206053950N1, 07.05.2022, retrospectively registered.

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