The Immediate Effects of Post Isometric Relaxation Techniques

Bulent Ecevit University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Neck Pain

Treatments: Other: post isometric relaxation; Other: Swedish Massage

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05581667

Immediate PIR

Details and patient eligibility

About

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the immediate effects of Post Isometric Relaxation (PIR) Technique on pain threshold, pain severity and joint range of motion of the cervical region in healthcare workers with neck pain.

Method: A total of 30 male and female participants aged 20-45 were randomly divided into two groups (Post Isometric Relaxation (PIR) Technique and Control Group). PIR group participants were under a single session of PIR application with 10 repetitions to m.supraspinatus, the upper part of the m.trapeze and m.levator scapula in addition to classical Swedish massage for neck and upper thoraric region. Control group participants received only classical Swedish massage to the cervical and upper thoracic region. Pain severity (Visual Analog Scale), Pain threshold (digital algometer), range of servical motion (goniometer) were measured at baseline and immediately after the single-session PIR Techniques.

Full description

Neck pain is the second most common musculoskeletal problem in the world after low back pain in terms of disability and health expenditures. Occupational groups with the highest incidence of neck pain include those working in a hospital environment, office workers, and manual workers.

Post Isometric Relaxation Technique (PIR) is a Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and is used by physiotherapists to relax muscles, reduce pain and increase range of motion. The PIR Technique provides its neurological effects through autogenic inhibition, which results in relaxation in the agonist muscle by inhibiting contraction with the stimuli sent by the group Ib fibers originating from the Golgi tendon organ of the agonist muscle to the medulla spinalis during static stretching.

The aim of our study is to investigate the instantaneous effect of PIR Technique on pain threshold, pain intensity and joint range of motion (neck flexion, extension, right and left rotation, right and left lateral flexion) in hospital workers with neck pain.

This experimental study, which was planned as randomized and single-blind, was planned to be carried out with a total of 30 volunteer participants, male and female, working in a private hospital in Istanbul between 7 October 2022 and 10 December 2022.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 45 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• be a hospital worker
• complaining of neck pain for at least 3 months
• pain intensity at rest is 4 out of 10 according to VAS assessment
• volunteer to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• Having neck pain after trauma to the neck in the last 6 months
• presence of neurological signs; neck pain that has spread to the arm and fingers
• have had spinal surgery
• shoulder pathology

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

PIR Group

Experimental group

Description:

PIR Group participants will be given a one-time PIR Technique for each of the neck and upper back muscles, right after the classical Swedish massage is applied to the cervical region and upper back area.

Treatment:

Other: post isometric relaxation

Other: Swedish Massage

Control Group

Experimental group

Description:

Control group participants will receive classical Swedish massage only to the cervical and upper thoracic region.

Treatment:

Other: Swedish Massage