Effect of First and Second Rib Mobilization in Patients With Non-Specific Neck Pain

the effect of First Rib Mobilization in Mechanical Neck Pain with Radiculopathy for Pain Relief in which fifty patients with age between 21- 60 years, who fulfilled the study sample selection criteria were registered in the study. After sample selection of 50 subjects (by scientific calculator) by using convenient sampling technique, a written consent was signed from each participant before any assessment and management. All subjects were treated by applying Maitland grade I, II first rib mobilization for a session comprising on 20 minutes. The subjects were treated thrice in a week for next 2 weeks. The participants were assessed before and after treatment. Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) was used to record pain severity level. A self-structured validated questionnaire was used to collect the demographics. Pain was assessed before and after first rib mobilization by using paired sample t-test was done to see the changes in the mean pain score. The study concluded that First Rib Mobilization was an effective treatment for subjects with mechanical neck ache and radicular symptoms.

Despite the extensive research on non-specific neck pain (NSNP) and various therapeutic interventions, there is a notable gap in the literature regarding the specific effects of first and second rib mobilization on pain, range of motion, muscle endurance, and disability in patients with NSNP. While studies have explored manual therapies, proprioceptive exercises, and virtual reality as complementary interventions, the direct impact of rib mobilization, especially involving both the first and second ribs, remains under-investigated. Additionally, most existing studies focus on short-term outcomes, and there is limited evidence on the long-term effects of rib mobilization techniques.

Inclusion criteria

• Neurological tests will be negative
• Both genders having age between 20 to 45 years
• Participants should have primary complaint of neck pain
• Neck Disability Index (NDI) score of 20% or greater (i.e. 10 points or greater on a 0 to 50 scale)
• a pain intensity of ≥4 on the 10-point Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)

Exclusion criteria

• First and second rib fracture and dislocation
• Past surgical history of cervical and thoracic region
• Thoracic Outlet syndrome and Cervical radiculopathy
• Congenital anomalies of spine and ribs