Effectiveness of magnetic therapy versus exercise in elderly patients with chronic mechanical neck pain: A randomized clinical trial

Background: Mechanical neck pain (MNP) affects all age groups, it has a substantial physical, psychological, and economic impact, especially in elderly. This study aimed to evaluate effect of addition of magnetic therapy (MT) to exercise versus exercise therapy alone on neck pain (NP), proprioception, and balance in elderly patients with chronic MNP. Materials & Methods: 50 elderly patients with chronic MNP were assigned to magnetic group (25 patients who practiced exercise program for 35-40 minutes/session three sessions per week for four weeks in addition exposure to MT for 20 minutes each session three sessions per week for four weeks) and control group (25 patients who practiced only the exercise program). The severity of pain, cervical joint position sense (JPS) and balance performance were measured by using the visual analogue scale (VAS) goniometer and the both single-leg stance time (SLST), and timed up and go (TUG) tests, respectively. ANOVA and Independent t-tests were used to determine significant differences within and between two groups for normal variables, whereas the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for not normal variables. Results: The results show significant improvements in VAS, SLST (with open and closed eyes), TUG, and JPS after interventions in both groups, p-value <0.05, while addition of MT to exercise program induced only significant differences in VAS, SLST (with open & closed eyes), TUG, except JPS, p-value = 0.002, 0.047 & 0.037, 0.001, and 0.928 respectively, in favor to the magnetic group. Conclusions: Multi-dimensional exercise program is effective in relieving NP and improving balance in elderly with MNP, addition of MT to exercise program could induce superior effects only on pain and balance for elderly patients with MNP.