The Effectiveness of Muscle Energy Technique Combined With Strengthening of Deep Neck Flexors With and Without Core Stability Exercise in Upper Cross Syndrome Patients.

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Forward Head Posture; Upper Cross Syndrome
• Interventions: Other: Muscle energy technique (MET)

• Registration Number: NCT06139146
• Lead Sponsor: Dow University of Health Sciences

Brief Summary

Upper cross syndrome (UCS) is a common muscles related postural disorder which is increasing every new day that is affecting the health related quality of life. It is most prevalent amongst the individuals who work at computers or laptops, or on desks.

The UCS is caused by poor posture. Weak core musculature leads to poor body posture causing chronic degenerative changes and disturbing body alignment and body equilibrium. Core stability exercises (CSE) are a good strategy to improve body posture. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of muscle energy technique (MET) combined with the strengthening of deep neck flexors with and without core stability exercise to manage Upper Cross Syndrome (UCS) patients.

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial will be conducted at the Dow University of Health Sciences Ojha campus in Karachi, Pakistan. Those patients who fulfill the criteria will be enrolled in physiotherapy OPD and general OPD. Then they will be randomized into two groups as per the random allocation sheet for treatment. Pre- and post-intervention assessment for pain, functional disability, and range of motions will be done by visual analog scale (VAS), neck disability index (NDI), and goniometer.

Analysis of pre- and post-intervention measure analysis will be performed using SPSS version 21.The Sampling technique will be Nonprobability purposive sampling with Sample size of 70 participants (35 in each group).

Intervention: The Participant will be divided into two groups as per the random allocation sheet for treatment. In Group A, the control group will receive a moist heat pack for 20 minutes then muscle energy technique (MET) of the upper trapezius, levator scapula, and pectoralis muscles (major and minor) and strengthening exercise of deep neck flexors. In Group B, the experimental group will receive the same treatment session as the control group along with the Core stability exercise. There will be 12 sessions for each patient, 6 sessions regularly in the 1st week and then 3 sessions per week for the next 2 weeks.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2023-01-20
• Study First Submitted: 2023-11-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-11-15
• Study First Posted: 2023-11-18
• Primary Completion: 2024-01-27
• Study Completion: 2024-01-27
• Status Verified: 2024-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-03-20
• Last Update Posted: 2024-03-21

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 70

Inclusion Criteria

• Participants who were diagnosed or referred with UCS
• The participant with the age of 18 - 45 years old.
• Both male and female.
• Craniovertebral angle less than 48.
• Restricted cervical range of motion.

Exclusion Criteria

• • Participants who were diagnosed with: Inflammatory/Rheumatoid Arthritis , neurological disorders, History of trauma or fracture with cervical spine, Cervical spine surgery or trauma or any spinal Congenital deformities.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Group A Control	Muscle energy technique (MET)	A moist heat pack for 15-20 minutes MET of the upper trapezius, levator scapula and pectoral Major muscles Strengthening exercise of deep neck flexors

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Visual analog scale (change is being assessed)	Baseline and 3 weeks.	The primary outcome is self-reported neck pain on visual analog scale. VAS validate subjective measure for acute and chronic pain. The VAS consists of a line that is 10 cm long, with two end points that stand for 0 (meaning "no pain") and 10 (meaning "pain as bad as it could be"). VAS is the most reliable among numerical rating scale (NRS) and verbal rating scale (VRS)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Craniovertebral angle (change is being assessed)	Baseline and 3 weeks.	The craniovertebral angle measure by Goniometric method which is accepted as reliable method. Measurement will be perform in standing position. The intersection of a horizontal line that goes through the C7 spinous process and a line that connects the middle of the tragus of the ear to the skin overlying the C7 spinous process is known as the craniovertebral angle. With inter-rater reliability for the measurements has been found to be good (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.893).
Cervical range of motions (change is being assessed)	Baseline and 3 weeks.	It measure by using Goniometer and goniometric measurements had established validity and reliability. Previous studies found that the intra-tester reliability was greater than the inter-tester reliability in both clinical and research setting.
Neck Disability Index (change is being assessed)	Baseline and 3 weeks.	Neck disability index (NDI) will use to assess how neck pain affected daily living activities. The urdu version of NDI is an easy-to-understand and free to use, intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC2,1) revealed excellent test-retest reliability for all items with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.90, and good content validity.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Dr. SUNDUS NAZ; 🇵🇰 Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan