The Effect of Six Weeks of Functional Cognitive Training on Cognitive Factors among the People with Non-Specific Chronic Neck Pain; A Clinical Trial Study

Abstract

Introduction: Neck pain is a common problem in human societies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of six weeks of functional cognitive training on the cognitive factors of people with non-specific chronic neck pain. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial study, 24 patients with chronic neck pain were randomly divided into two groups of cognitive functional exercise and control. Cognitive factors were assessed before and immediately after six weeks of cognitive training using pain self-efficacy questionnaire, pain catastrophizing scale, fear-avoidance believes inventory, and depression, anxiety, and stress-21 questionnaire. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and paired t tests. Results: Comparison of two groups after treatment showed a significant difference in all cognitive variables; so that all factors were improved in the intervention group (P = 0.001). Paired t-test results also showed a significant difference in all variables in the intervention group, before and after the test (P = 0.001); but no significant difference was observed for the control group. Conclusion: The findings suggest that functional cognitive training can be used as a novel method to improve the cognitive factors among the people with chronic neck pain.

Keywords

• neck pain
• self efficacy
• pain catastrophizing