A study finds that two treatments commonly prescribed for neck pain are not effective.

Neck pain is common, especially among office workers. It is often treated by physiotherapy but this approach is now called into question by new research,

A group of nearly 400 female office workers complaining of neck pain was assigned to either dynamic muscle therapy (a physiotherapy technique), relaxation therapy, or no treatment, for 12 weeks. Assessments after treatment and during a year of follow up revealed no significant differences between the three sub-groups. In other words, neither of the two physiotherapy treatments seem to be useful in treating this kind of neck pain. Evidently other approaches are needed - such as prevention or more effective exercise therapy.

Source

British Medical Journal 30th August 2003