Effects of Thoracic Spine and Cervical Spine Mobilization on Pain, Functional Disability, and Quality of Life in Patients With Mechanical Neck Pain.

Mechanical neck pain (MNP) is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by localized or unilateral neck pain arising from cervical musculoskeletal structures, without nerve root involvement. It is frequently associated with restricted cervical and thoracic mobility, muscle stiffness, reduced range of motion, and functional limitations, which can significantly impair daily activities, work performance, and overall quality of life. Due to its high prevalence and recurrent nature, effective conservative physiotherapy management is essential.

Among commonly used physiotherapy interventions, spinal mobilization techniques particularly cervical spine mobilization and thoracic spine mobilization are widely applied to reduce pain, improve joint mobility, and enhance functional outcomes. Cervical mobilization focuses on restoring segmental mobility of the cervical spine and modulating pain through mechanical and neurophysiological mechanisms. In contrast, thoracic spine mobilization targets the upper thoracic region to improve extension mobility and reduce biomechanical stress on the cervical spine through the concept of regional interdependence. Although both techniques are frequently used in clinical practice, there is limited comparative evidence regarding their individual and combined effectiveness in patients with mechanical neck pain.

This study is designed as a two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial. A total of 66 participants diagnosed with mechanical neck pain will be recruited using a convenience sampling technique. Participants will be randomly allocated into two groups using computer-generated randomization with a 1:1 allocation ratio. Allocation concealment will be ensured using sealed opaque envelopes, and outcome assessment will be performed by a blinded assessor.

Participants in Group A will receive cervical spine Maitland mobilization applied to symptomatic cervical segments (C2-C7) using graded oscillatory techniques for pain reduction and mobility improvement. Participants in Group B will receive combined thoracic and cervical spine Maitland mobilization, where thoracic mobilization will be applied to upper thoracic segments (T1-T4) followed by cervical mobilization within the same session.

Both groups will receive standardized physiotherapy care, including patient education on posture and ergonomics, along with a structured home exercise program focusing on cervical mobility and postural control. The intervention will be conducted over a period of 8 weeks, with 2 sessions per week. Each session will last approximately 30 minutes.

Outcome measures will include pain intensity assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), functional disability measured by the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and quality of life evaluated using the Short Form-36 (SF-36). Assessments will be conducted at baseline, mid-intervention (4 weeks), and post-intervention (8 weeks).

Data will be analyzed using SPSS software. Normality of data will be assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, and appropriate parametric or non-parametric tests will be applied for within-group and between-group comparisons.

This study aims to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of cervical spine mobilization alone versus combined thoracic and cervical spine mobilization in improving pain, functional disability, and quality of life in patients with mechanical neck pain, thereby contributing to evidence-based physiotherapy practice.

Inclusion criteria

Participants of both genders aged between 20 and 40 years with a clinical diagnosis of mechanical neck pain will be included in the study. Eligible participants must have a history of neck pain lasting more than 4 weeks (subacute to chronic) and demonstrate mild to moderate functional disability, defined by a Neck Disability Index (NDI) score between 10% and 50%.

Exclusion criteria

Participants will be excluded if they present with signs or symptoms of cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy, such as a positive Spurling's test accompanied by neurological deficits, dermatomal numbness, or myotome weakness. Individuals with a history of cervical spine fracture, dislocation, or spinal surgery, as well as those with inflammatory, infectious, or neoplastic spinal conditions, will also be excluded. Additional exclusion criteria include diagnosed osteoporosis or prolonged use of systemic corticosteroids, severe cervical spine instability or vertebrobasilar insufficiency, recent trauma to the cervical or thoracic spine within the past 6 months, presence of systemic neurological disorders, pregnancy, and current participation in another physiotherapy or clinical trial for neck pain.