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Comparison of Two Treatments on Nonspecific Neck Pain

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Ischemic Compression and Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization on Pain and Function in Patients With Nonspecific Neck Pain

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06485921
Enrollment
48
Registered
2024-07-03
Start date
2024-06-01
Completion date
2024-10-31
Last updated
2024-07-03

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Neck Pain

Keywords

Neck pain, Trigger point, Exercise, Physical therapy, Manual therapy

Brief summary

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of Ischemic Compression (IC) and Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) on pain, functionality, cervical range of motion, pressure pain threshold, and quality of life in patients suffering from nonspecific neck pain.

Detailed description

Chronic nonspecific neck pain affects approximately 67% of the global population at least once in their lifetime. This type of neck pain, which is not linked to any specific cause or disease but often associated with the musculoskeletal system, can result from muscle strain or spasms in the neck. It causes functional limitations and decreases quality of life for those affected. Individuals frequently turn to healthcare services and pain-relieving medications in their efforts to manage this discomfort. Chronic nonspecific neck pain is recognized as a significant public health challenge due to its considerable socioeconomic impact. Several studies have indicated that myofascial trigger points in the neck region are associated with nonspecific neck pain and that myofascial trigger point therapy can reduce pain. Therefore, the role of myofascial trigger point therapy in the treatment of nonspecific neck pain has been emphasized in studies.

Interventions

Participants will received a total of 12 treatment sessions over 6 weeks, with 2 sessions per week.

Participants will received a total of 12 treatment sessions over 6 weeks, with 2 sessions per week.

OTHERExercise and workplace modifications

Participants will receive stretching and strengthening exercises for neck and scapular stabilizer muscles as a 6-week home program.

Sponsors

Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Three groups with conventional therapy control group

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. Having nonspecific neck pain and at least 3 myofascial trigger points in the back and neck muscles, 2. Pain duration exceeding 3 months, 3. Working with a computer for at least 20 hours per week for at least 1 year, 4. Pain intensity rated as at least 3 on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), 5. Age between 18 and 50 years

Exclusion criteria

1. Use of anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticoagulant, muscle relaxant, or antidepressant medications at the start of the study or within 1 week prior to the study, 2. History of cervical spine surgery or trauma, 3. Neck pain, including inflammatory rheumatic diseases, 4. Malignancy or structural deformity, 5. Coagulation disorders, 6. Presence of cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy, 7. Individuals who have undergone any physical therapy and rehabilitation interventions to the neck and back regions in the last three months

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Visual Analog Scale(VAS)Six weeksVAS is a measurement tool commonly used to assess the intensity of pain or other symptoms. It consists of a horizontal line labeled with descriptive anchors at each end (e.g., 'no pain' to 'worst pain imaginable'). Patients mark on the line to indicate their subjective perception of symptom severity, with the distance from the starting point to the mark providing a quantitative measure. As the value on the scale increases, the perceived pain or symptom intensity also increases
Neck Disability Index (NDI)Six weeksNDI is a measurement tool used to assess functional limitations in the neck region. It is commonly employed in individuals experiencing neck pain to evaluate the extent of restrictions in daily activities. NDI allows patients to subjectively assess how much their neck pain affects their daily lives. The score on the scale indicates the degree of functional impairment experienced by the patient and is used to evaluate treatment outcomes. When the score decreases, it indicates a reduction in limitations.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Pain pressure thresholdSix weeksThe pressure algometer (model: JTECH USA Commander) will be applied perpendicularly to the trigger point. Participants will be instructed to report the onset of discomfort. Compression will be halted upon their report, and the measurement displayed on the algometer screen will be documented. Three readings will be taken with a 30-second interval between each trial, and the average value will be recorded for analysis.
The Work Role Functioning Questionnaire (WRFQ)Six weeksWRFQ evaluates functionality and work capacity by assessing individuals' roles and functions in the workplace. It covers aspects such as work performance, job retention, and job-related functionality. The questionnaire identifies both constraints and strengths in the workplace, offering insights into employees' perceptions of their job performance and role. It is widely used to assess return to work readiness and overall work ability, with higher scores indicating improved work performance.
Global Rating of Change (GROC)Six weeksThe satisfaction levels of the participants will be evaluated using the 5-point GROC scale at the end of 6 weeks. The scale ranges from -2 to +2, where -2 indicates I am much worse, -1 indicates I am worse, 0 indicates I am the same, +1 indicates I am better, and +2 indicates I am much better.
SF- 12 quality of lifeSix weeksSF-12 Quality of Life (SF-12 QoL) is a standardized survey tool used to measure health-related quality of life in individuals. It consists of 12 questions that assess physical and mental health, daily functioning, emotional well-being, and overall perception of health status. The survey provides scores for physical and mental health components, reflecting the individual's perceived quality of life across these domains. SF-12 QoL is widely used in research and clinical settings to evaluate health outcomes, monitor changes in health status over time, and assess the impact of interventions on quality of life.
Cervical range of motionSix weeksIndividuals' active cervical range of motion includes flexion, extension, right-left lateral flexion, and rotation will measured with a universal goniometer.

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026