Introduction: Chronic neck pain is a common condition in modern society, affecting individuals’ functionality, posture, and quality of life. Among therapeutic approaches, scapular stabilization exercise is being increasingly implemented, as it is believed to improve muscle performance, head position, reduce pain, and enhance quality of life. Purpose: The aim of this literature review was to determine the effects of scapular stabilization exercise on pain, cervical spine mobility, and quality of life in individuals with chronic neck pain. Methods: A literature search was conducted in the electronic databases PubMed and ScienceDirect, as well as the academic platform ResearchGate. The following English keywords and phrases were used: neck pain, chronic neck pain, scapular stabilization exercise. The quality of the studies was assessed using the PEDro scale. Results: After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, eight randomized controlled trials were included in the final analysis. The results of six studies showed a statistically significant reduction in pain and an improvement in cervical spine mobility, and three studies reported a statistically significant improvement in the craniovertebral angle. Six studies also confirmed improvements in functional disability and quality of life. Discussion and Conclusion: Scapular stabilization exercise represents an effective therapeutic approach in the management of chronic neck pain, as it has a positive effect on pain, posture, cervical spine mobility, and quality of life. Nevertheless, the effects varied among studies due to differences in exercise protocols, measurement tools, and unequal representation of participants. To obtain more reliable conclusions, further studies are needed with longer follow-up periods, larger sample sizes, and a balanced structure with respect to the age and sex of participants.
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