Meta-Analysis of Combined Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation and Yoga Interventions for Common Neck Pain: Clinical Trial Evidence

Abstract

Common neck pain is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders, often leading to chronic discomfort, restricted cervical mobility, and reduced quality of life. While conventional management strategies such as pharmacotherapy and physical therapy provide varying degrees of relief, there is growing interest in complementary approaches. This review synthesizes clinical trial evidence on the role of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and yoga—both independently and in combination—in managing non-specific neck pain. Evidence demonstrates that yoga consistently reduces pain intensity and functional disability, with benefits extending up to 1 month post-intervention. PNF techniques, though less extensively studied in isolation for neck pain, show promise in enhancing cervical range of motion, neuromuscular control, and proprioceptive awareness. While direct clinical trials on combined PNF and yoga interventions are lacking, their complementary mechanisms—PNF targeting neuromuscular retraining and yoga addressing biomechanical and psychosocial factors—suggest a synergistic potential. This review highlights the clinical utility of yoga, the adjunctive role of PNF, and the need for high-quality randomized controlled trials evaluating their integrated application. Such evidence could inform the development of comprehensive, non-pharmacological rehabilitation strategies for common neck pain.