Effects of Muscle Specific as Compared to Movement Specific Muscle Energy Technique on Isometric Muscle Strength and Muscular Endurance in Individuals With Mechanical Neck Pain

Foundation University Islamabad

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Neck Pain

Treatments: Procedure: Muscle specific muscle energy technique; Procedure: Movement specific muscle energy technique

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07329478

FUI/CTR/2025/25

Details and patient eligibility

About

Neck pain, prevalent in young adults due to poor posture, sedentary habits, and muscle imbalance. This study aims to compare the effects of muscle-specific versus movement-specific MET on pain, isometric muscle strength, and endurance of neck flexors and extensors. Pre- and post-intervention assessments using VAS, Modified Sphygmomanometer Dynamometer, and cranio-cervical flexion/extension tests will evaluate treatment outcomes.

Full description

Neck pain, affecting nearly 75.7% of young adults, is commonly linked to poor posture, sedentary lifestyles, and muscle imbalances. If left untreated, it may lead to disability and degenerative changes. Among rehabilitation approaches, muscle energy techniques (METs) have shown effectiveness in improving pain, mobility, and function by targeting neuromuscular dysfunction. This study aims to compare the effects of muscle- specific MET with movement-specific MET on pain, isometric muscle strength, and muscular endurance of neck flexors and extensors in individuals with neck pain. A randomized control trial will be conducted using purposive sampling. Thirty participants will be divided into two groups: Group A (movement-specific MET) and Group B (muscle-specific MET), with both groups following a standard protocol of Tens and Hotpack applied for 10 mins proceeding every session for five sessions.

Enrollment: 30 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 19 to 44 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Age 19-44 years.
• Both Genders (Male and Female).
• Limitation on cervical motion
• Pain ranging from 40-80 mm on visual analogue scale (VAS)

Exclusion criteria

• Participants with a positive history of fracture, surgery or trauma in the neck region, thoracic outlet syndrome, infection, any malignancy.
• Vascular syndromes such as vertebrobasilar insufficiency.
• Inflammatory, or rheumatic disorders, cervical radiculopathy, myelopathy, spondylosis, or syringomyelia.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

A:Muscle specific muscle energy technique

Experimental group

Description:

Group A receives Muscle specific muscle energy technique. Tens and Hotpack 10 mins preceding every session.

Treatment:

Procedure: Muscle specific muscle energy technique

B: Movement specific muscle energy technique

Experimental group

Description:

Group B receives Movement specific muscle energy technique. Tens and Hotpack preceding every session for 10 mins.

Treatment:

Procedure: Movement specific muscle energy technique