Effects of Myofascial Release With Isometric Exercises Versus Scapular Stabilization Exercise on Neck Pain in Text Neck

Neck pain NP (pain in cervical region) has been a major issue these days related to the increased use of smartphones. A posture that has been developed by growing use of technology is a posture called the Text Neck, which has become an epidemic to the world. The text neck is a posture in which a person keeps their head down (forward head posture) to look at their device for long periods of time. There are many medications and techniques used in management of neck pain. Myofascial release has been proved to be efficacious for pain in the neck. This study is unique in that it examines the effect of myofascial therapy along with isometric exercises or scapular stabilization exercises on neck pain, disability, movements and daily life activities.

Inclusion criteria

• Young adults including both female and male between the ages of 18 to 26 years with neck pain who were using smart phone, tablet or laptop for past six-month duration and above.
• Subjects with average 3 or more than 3 hours mobile usage and who may have 3 out of the 6 possible symptoms for text neck which include pain in neck, upper back and shoulder pain, headache as well as insomnia, tingling and numbness in the hands for more than 6 months and with a complain of pain in neck after use of mobile phones or other gadgets.
• Individuals with NDI score of minimum 30%-48% i.e., moderate disability.
• Individuals with willingness to participate in this study.

Exclusion criteria

• Specific causes of neck pain involving problems including neurological involvement such as myelopathy combined with weakness, sensory loss with numbness, cervical spinal stenosis and prolapse.
• Any previous neck or upper limb surgery.
• Any neurological disorders including headache and irradiated pain due to some diagnosed disease with involvement of infection and malignancy
• Cerebrovascular insufficiency, carcinoma or traumatic fractures or any chronic disease of musculoskeletal system such as polyarthritis.
• Individuals with acute pain and inflammation, torticollis, acute osteoarthritis, vertigo, heart disease, pregnancy will be excluded from this research.