The scientific literature supports the effectiveness of therapeutic exercise for acute neck pain. Rehabilitation treatment involves strengthening and stretching of the stabilizing muscles of the cervical spine and shoulder girdle, improved mobility and proprioception, always respecting the pain threshold [9].

In case of chronic neck pain, isometric strengthening exercises have been proven effective, with results maintained even in 3 years.

The dosage of the specific exercise depends on the local load capacity, while, for nonspecific exercises, individual general load capacity must be taken into account, and in particular the presence of comorbidity. According to the clinical presentation, exercises may be directed to the upper cervical spine, the lower spine and the cervicothoracic transition.

The final phase of the treatment will be “gesture-specific”, i.e. the patient will mimic work gestures movements, or sport movements, in order to allow the full reintegration of the person in its activities .

The therapeutic exercise seems to have a synergistic effect in combination with manual therapy enough to be strongly recommended in the guidelines [10]. Manual therapy through its two different techniques allows the separate treatment of the soft tissues and the joints. The first one is performed on the muscles, tendons and ligaments designed to restore the elasticity of the structure and the resolution of the pain of myofascial origin.

The second one uses mobilization with and without impulse. Mobilizations are carried out by applying different parameters of intensity and time, respecting the range of motion allowed. Depending on the direction of the movement it can be divided into direct, if the mobilization is carried out towards the barrier of restriction, or indirect, if it takes place in the opposite direction. The technique is also called primary, when it involves only the articulation to mobilize, and secondary if it takes place through the mobilization of other joints.

The application of physical therapy in the reduction of acute and chronic neck pain consists mainly in magnetic therapy, analgesic electrotherapy, ultrasound and laser therapy in its various forms.

A single randomized trial demonstrated a modest short-term efficacy of magnetic therapy in the treatment of acute and chronic non-specific neck pain [11].