None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This study investigates the effects of a combined manual therapy and exercise program in young adults with neck pain associated with latent myofascial trigger points in the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Participants receive positional release therapy and muscle energy techniques administered by a physiotherapist, along with a home exercise program and posture education. The purpose of the study is to evaluate whether this combined intervention reduces pain and discomfort and improves cervical spine function compared with exercise alone or no intervention. It is hypothesized that the combined manual therapy and exercise approach will be more effective than control conditions.
Interventions
Intervention Group (Group A):
Participants receive a combined manual therapy and exercise-based intervention. The manual therapy consists of positional release therapy (PRT) according to Jones, combined with muscle energy techniques (MET) according to Chaitow, applied to latent myofascial trigger points of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.
Positional release therapy involves placing the participant’s head and neck in a position of maximal comfort and minimal tissue tension, determined individual
Intervention Group (Group A): Participants receive a combined manual therapy and exercise-based intervention. The manual therapy consists of positional release therapy (PRT) according to Jones, combined with muscle energy techniques (MET) according to Chaitow, applied to latent myofascial trigger points of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Positional release therapy involves placing the participant’s head and neck in a position of maximal comfort and minimal tissue tension, determined individually by the physiotherapist, and maintaining this position for approximately 90 seconds to allow neuromuscular relaxation of the targeted muscle. Muscle energy techniques involve gentle, isometric contractions of the sternocleidomastoid muscle against therapist resistance, followed by relaxation and passive stretching. All manual therapy procedures are administered by a licensed physiotherapist. Therapy is delivered over a 3-week period, three sessions per week, with each session lasting approximately 15 minutes. In addition, participants perform a standardized home exercise program for the cervical spine, carried out daily for 3 weeks. The program includes: – a short warm-up, – a main exercise set consisting of stretching, strengthening, and posture-corrective exercises, – instructions and recommendations for correct movement patterns and proper exercise technique. Participants also receive education on correct posture, provided as a one-off, face-to-face session lasting approximately 30 minutes, delivered during the first study visit. Adherence to the intervention was monitored through attendance records for supervised sessions and participant self-report regarding completion of the home exercise program. Examples of recommended exercises: -stretching of the upper part of the trapezius muscle and the sternocleidomastoid muscle, -isometric exercises for the paraspinal muscles, -exercises correcting head posture. The intensity of the intervention was individually tailored to each participant according to clinical assessment and current symptom presentation.
Sponsors
University of Physical Culture in Krakow
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
19 Years to 26 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
-Age: 19–26 years, -presence of characteristic symptoms of latent myofascial trigger points of the sternocleidomastoid muscle ( MOS) on both sides, -presence of limitation and/or discomfort and/or tension and/or pain in the neck and/or shoulder area, -individuals without formal sports qualifications, practicing sports recreationally, -confirmed consent to participate in the study by completing the Informed Consent form.
Exclusion criteria
-Failure to meet the inclusion criteria, -acute inflammatory conditions, -disc pathology, -lack of or impaired sensation in the treated area, -neurological disorders of the cervical spine and radiculopathy, -fractures occurring in the cervical spine and shoulder joint, -brachial plexus injury, -severe cardiac diseases, -rheumatic disease, -cancer, -pacemaker or defibrillator, -pregnancy, -other general contraindications to the use of manual therapy, -participation in physiotherapy within the last 6 months,
Outcome results
None listed