Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39483836›Full record

ReviewJournal of craniovertebral junction & spine

Impact of physical exercise (strength and stretching) on repairing craniovertebral and reducing neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Tommy Alfandy Nazwar, Farhad Bal'afif, Donny Wisnu Wardhana, Mustofa Mustofa

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of craniovertebral junction & spine. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Intelligent prediction of cervical instability based on MRI radiomics combined with clinical features.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Tommy Alfandy NazwarDepartment of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, Brawijaya University/Saiful Anwar Hospital, Malang, East Java, Indonesia.
Farhad Bal'afifDepartment of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, Brawijaya University/Saiful Anwar Hospital, Malang, East Java, Indonesia.
Donny Wisnu WardhanaDepartment of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, Brawijaya University/Saiful Anwar Hospital, Malang, East Java, Indonesia.
Mustofa MustofaDepartment of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, Brawijaya University/Saiful Anwar Hospital, Malang, East Java, Indonesia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The craniovertebral (CV) junction is crucial for head support, mobility, and protecting the upper spinal cord and vital nerve structures. Disorders in this area can cause severe symptoms such as neck pain, restricted movement, and neurological issues such as headaches and balance problems. Exercise and physical activity improves muscle strength, flexibility, joint stability, reducing pain, and enhancing joint function, while specifically for the CV junction, exercise can relieve muscle tension, boost blood flow, and improve posture, although the specific impact on CV junction health remains underexplored. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using databases MEDLINE, Cochrane, Lilacs, and ScienceDirect, alongside manual searches through reference lists. The review focuses on exercise and CV junction issues and includes randomized controlled trials, cohort or case-control studies, and systematic reviews. Primary outcomes include pain levels, joint mobility, function, and quality of life. Results: Results yield four meta-analyses with corrective exercise and conventional exercise in improving forward head posture risk difference 0.00 (-0.09, 0.09) 95% confidence interval (CI), between cervical and thoracic exercises odds ratio 1.04 (0.59, 1.84) 95% CI. Comparing exercise treatment and physiotherapy showed risk difference 0.11 (-0.10, 0.32) 95% CI and the comparative analysis between training and no treatment showed risk difference 0.09 (-0.01, 0.20) 95% CI. Conclusion: Exercise-based rehabilitation programs tailored to patients with CV junction problems offer robust evidence, benefiting clinical management, and prevention efforts.

Indexed as

Craniovertebralforward head postureneck painphysical exercise

Identifiers

PMID39483836
PMCPMC11524567

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-SA
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.