Effectiveness of Neck Stretching Exercises on Neck Pain and Disability for Patients with Total Thyroidectomy

Background: Neck stretching exercises improves flexibility and neuromuscular coordination, reduces pain and muscle weakness, improves physical activity and encourages proper posture. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of neck stretching exercises on neck pain and disability for patients with total thyroidectomy. Design: Quasi-experimental design was utilized to fulfill the aim of this study. Setting: This study was conducted in the surgical departments at Benha University Hospital and outpatient clinics. Subjects: Purposive sample of patients with total thyroidectomy (60 patients) divided into two groups (intervention group n=30) and (control group n=30) during the time of data collection (12months). Data collection tools: 1) Patients Structured Interviewing Questionnaire to evaluate patients total knowledge, 2) Neck disability index to evaluate neck disability level after total thyroidectomy and 3) Visual analogue scale for pain to evaluate neck pain level after total thyroidectomy. Results: The mean age of both studied groups (intervention& control) was 39.20±7.45 &40.51±7.70, respectively. There were no significant statistical differences between them regarding total knowledge level during pre-operative period. However, it was significantly different during (postoperative 1 st week & 4 th week).There was highly statistically significant difference between both studied groups regarding neck pain and disability level in 1 st week postoperative period, while there were statistically significant differences between both studied groups regarding neck pain and disability level in 4 th week postoperative period. Conclusion: There were high significant improvement in the intervention group total knowledge level 1 st week and 4 th week post operative following the exercises program implementation more than the control group, moreover the study group had a lower level of neck pain and disability than the control group 1 st week and 4 th week post-operative following the exercises program implementation. Recommendations: Replication of the study using a larger probability sample from different geographical areas to attain more generalizable results.