Effect of muscle energy technique and static stretching on pain and functional disability in patients with mechanical neck pain: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Mechanical neck pain is one of the common musculoskeletal disorders. Muscle energy technique (MET) may be a useful intervention for treating such disorder. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of MET with passive stretching on pain and functional disability in people with mechanical neck pain. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was undertaken. Sixty patients with mechanical neck pain were randomly allocated to either the MET group or control group. The former group received MET, and the latter group received static stretching. Both groups received conventional therapy. Treatment was given once a day for 6 days. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure the intensity of pain, and functional disability was assessed using the neck disability index (NDI) was immediately before treatment and again on the 6 th day. Results: VAS and NDI scores showed a significant improvement in both MET and stretching groups on the 6 th day postintervention ( p < 0.05). However, both VAS and NDI scores showed better improvement in the MET group as compared to the stretching group ( p < 0.025). Conclusion: Muscle energy technique was better than stretching technique in improving pain and functional disability in people with mechanical neck pain.

Effects of Muscle Energy Technique and Neck Stabilization Exercises on Pain, Psychological Status, and Sleep Disturbance in Patients with Non-Specific Chronic Neck Pain

“…The outcome of this study revealed a considerable improvement in pain associated with NSCNP in both MET and NSE groups in comparison to the control group after 8 weeks of treatment. This is consistent with the findings of Phadke et al (18) who revealed that MET reduced pain in patients with non-specific neck pain.…”

“…In this study, there was an improvement in the neck disability in both MET and NSE groups compared to the control. This corroborates the findings of a previous study by Ylinen et al (27) on NSE and Phadke et al (18) on MET among CNP patients. The impact of MET was moderated by the afferent input from the proprioceptive sensory receptor organ, which occurs when a muscle is contracted isometrically, the afferent feedback inhibits the muscle, resulting in relaxation when the contraction is released.…”

“…In this regard, the patient was asked to isometrically contract for 5 seconds, but not to overcome the force of the therapist; then the counterforce by the therapist was ceased slowly and the participant was asked to relax. The therapist then took the joint to a new barrier and the same procedure was repeated 3 times (10,18).…”

Recommendations of the Polish Society of Physiotherapy, the Polish Society of Family Medicine and the College of Family Physicians in Poland in the field of physiotherapy of back pain syndromes in primary health care

“…according to the international association for the study of Pain, this is neck pain in the area below the nuchal line and above the line marked by the transverse line running through the first spinous process of the thoracic spine and laterally through the sagittal plane adjacent to the lateral surface of the neck [4].…”

“…it has been shown that muscular imbalance (in the sternocleidomastoid, trapezius, levator scapulae, serratus anterior and pectoralis muscles) and abnormal movements may cause improper congruence of the articular surfaces. this can provoke pain, a secondary consequence of a primary imbalance in muscle tone [4]. incorrect axial loading of the articulat joints results in overloading of the intervertebral discs, followed by destruction of the intervertebral joints (the formation of osteophytes, increase of muscle tension, worsening of mobility, transfer of local ailments to peripheral areas -upper limbs, chest) [22].…”