Background and aims:
Nonspecific neck pain (NNP) is the commonest cause of neck symptoms and if untreated it may contribute to pain chronicity. This study aims to investigate the effects of 16-week mindfulness therapy in patients with nonspecific neck pain (NNP).
Methods
We enrolled 60 patients that are amateur athletes in our study and divided them into 2 groups (30 patients each) by the sealed envelope method. Both groups were given muscle relaxation techniques (post isometric relaxation (PIR), massaging and stretching). The study group additionally was educated with mindfulness meditation techniques (1-hour group sessions twice a week with following daily outside preparation and individual session for every participant). The treatment effectiveness was evaluated at admission and 16 weeks after treatment by pain attacks frequency and severity with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).

Results
The control group consisted of 68.8% females and 31.2% males (mean age 31.8±10.1 and mean pain attacks frequency 14.7±4.4 per month). The study group included 75% women and 25% males (mean age 38.3±12.7 and mean pain attacks frequency 15.1±2.6 per month). The VAS score was 4.7±1.6 and 5.1±1.8 points in the study and control groups, respectively. After the 16-week treatment, pain resolved in most of the patients (75%) and was significantly lower in the study group than in control group (0.9±0.3 and 2.3±0.7, respectively; p=0.03). Moreover, pain attacks frequency significantly decreased in the study group (3.7±1.6 per month) comparing with the controls (8.1±2.4 per month).
Conclusions
Patients with NNP can benefit from mindfulness therapy significantly relieving pain conditions.

16-WEEK MINDFULNESS THERAPY EFFECTIVENESS COMPARING WITH MUSCLE RELAXATION TECHNIQUES IN PATIENTS WITH NONSPECIFIC NECK PAIN: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL