Muscle Energy Technique Versus Myofascial Release in Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 已完成
- 发起方
- 入组人数
- 44
- 试验地点
- 1
- 主要终点
- Numeric Pain Rating Scale
研究概览
简要总结
Chronic non-specific neck pain is a common musculoskeletal condition that can significantly affect daily activities, sleep quality, and overall quality of life. It is often associated with muscle tightness, poor posture, and reduced neck mobility without any specific underlying structural pathology such as fracture or nerve compression.
This study aims to compare two commonly used physiotherapy treatment techniques: Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) in individuals with chronic non-specific neck pain.
A total of 52 participants aged 18-45 years with neck pain lasting more than three months will be included in this randomized controlled trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:
Group A: Conventional physiotherapy plus Muscle Energy Technique Group B: Conventional physiotherapy plus Myofascial Release Therapy
Both groups will receive treatment twice weekly for four weeks
. Conventional physiotherapy will include moist heat application and stretching exercises for neck muscles. In addition, one group will receive Muscle Energy
Technique targeting the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, and scalene muscles, while the other group will receive Myofascial Release Therapy targeting the same muscle groups.
Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline, at the second week, and at the fourth week. The study will evaluate:
Pain intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale) Neck range of motion (Inclinometer) Sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) Neck-related disability (Neck Disability Index)
The results of this study may help determine which technique is more effective in reducing pain, improving movement, enhancing sleep quality, and reducing disability in individuals with chronic non-specific neck pain. This may support clinicians in selecting the most appropriate treatment approach.
详细描述
Neck pain is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders globally and is a leading cause of disability. Chronic non-specific neck pain (NSNP) is characterized by mechanical neck pain lasting more than three months without identifiable structural pathology such as fracture, infection, radiculopathy, or malignancy. It is commonly associated with postural dysfunction, muscle tightness, and impaired cervical mobility.
Various physiotherapy interventions are used in the management of NSNP. Among them, Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) are widely practiced manual therapy techniques. However, limited direct comparative evidence exists regarding their relative effectiveness in individuals with chronic non-specific neck pain, particularly concerning outcomes such as sleep quality and functional disability.
This study is designed as a single-blinded randomized controlled trial conducted at the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital, Lahore. The study duration will be six months following research board approval.
A total of 52 participants (26 per group), aged 18-45 years, diagnosed with chronic non-specific neck pain of at least three months duration, will be recruited using non-probability convenience sampling. Sample size calculation was performed using pain (NPRS) as the primary outcome measure, with 95% confidence interval and 80% power.
Participants will be randomly allocated using sealed opaque envelope simple randomization into:
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Parallel
- 主要目的
- Treatment
- 盲法
- Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18 Years 至 45 Years（Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 是
入选标准
- •Both gender
- •Participant with neck pain from the past 3 months.
- •Participant with neck pain ≥7 on Visual analogue scale.
- •Participant with unilateral tightness of upper trapezius, scalene and levator scapulae on manual palpation.
- •Diagnosis consistent with Non-Specific Neck Pain (NSNP): mechanical pain aggravated by posture or movement, no neurological signs, no red flags, and pain localized to the neck with referral not extending below the shoulder.
- •Positive Craniocervical Flexion Test (CCFT) indicating deep cervical flexor dysfunction.
排除标准
- •Participant who received any therapeutic intervention for neck pain.
- •Participate with any inflammatory, neurological or malignant condition like rheumatoid arthritis, cervical radiculopathy or tumor of the neck respectively.
- •Participant with associated neck pain with facial pain or headache as a result of any fracture or major trauma to the cervical spine.
- •Participant with the history of surgery of cervical spine in the last 12 months.
- •Participant with disc prolapse or stenosis.
- •Participant with any deformity such as torticollis, sprengel's deformity or scoliosis.
结局指标
主要结局
Numeric Pain Rating Scale
时间窗: Baseline, Week 2, and Week 4
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), an 11-point self-reported scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain).
次要结局
- Cervical Range of Motion(Baseline, Week 2, and Week 4)
- Neck Disability Index(Baseline, Week 2, and Week 4)