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NCT Number: NCT07599631

Integrated Neuromuscular Inhibition Technique Versus Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization On Neck Disability, Endurance, and Proprioception Of Nonspecific Chronic Neck Pain

this study will be conducted to compare INIT versus IASTM on neck disability, cervical muscle endurance and proprioception, cervical alignment, pain intensity, pressure pain threshold in patients with neck pain

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Key information

Conditions

Neck Pain Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

Neck pain arises from a variety of factors, which may include ergonomic considerations and individual characteristics such as age, behavioral attitudes, or psychosocial issues like anxiety and job satisfaction. Since most cases of neck pain do not have a specific identifiable cause and are often linked to posture or mechanical issues, they are typically classified as nonspecific chronic neck pain. The primary goals of treating neck pain and MTrPs are to resolve the spasm, ease the pain, and deactivate the TrPs. One of these methods is the integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique (INIT). Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) with the M2T blade (M2T-Blade: IASTM Technology, Hamilton, ON, Canada) is a multifunctional instrument. Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization is inexpensive and has a variety of planes that can be used in treatment. Many studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in alleviating patients' symptoms.According to the literature, IASTM and INIT were effective as well as nonexhaustive treatment methods for patients experiencing mechanical neck pain. But there was a lack of literature that compared IASTM and INIT on neck disability, endurance, and proprioception on patients with neck pain.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • All participants ages will range from 18 to 50 years.
  • BMI ranged from 18.5 to 30.
  • have TrPs in their UT muscle, pain at rest, a jump sign when pressure is applied, limited range of motion (ROM), and referred pain.
  • The participants will report pain in the posterior or posterior lateral aspect of the neck in the previous 3 months

Exclusion criteria

  • Participants of cervical spine disorders (cervical disc disease, cervical spondylitis, cervical myelopathy.
  • Participants with musculoskeletal conditions.
  • Pregnant women.
  • Participants with congenital postural deformities.
  • Participants who had a definite visual disability.

Treatment and study plan

Integrated Neuromuscular Inhibition technique

Other

For the integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique, the participant will be in a supine lying position. During the PPT evaluation process, the site of the TrP will be determined and will be marked. First, intermittent IC will be initiated by using the thumb and index finger to apply a pincer grip to the TrP in the middle of the UT. Second, applying pressure to the trigger point and asking the participants how much pain they will experience. The participants' heads will passively flexed laterally to the affected side. The therapist then will hold the participant's forearm and passively will move the shoulder to about 90° of abduction while monitoring the discomfort induced by the TrP, and then will ask the patient about the intensity of pain. If the pain will decrease by 70% from the start, the position will be held for 30 seconds and repeated 2 to 3 times. Then muscle energy technique is applied plus tradional therapy.

Instrument-assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization

Other

For IASTM, the M2T blade will be used to identify specific parts of the limitation on the right UT. After that, treatment planes 1-2-3 will be used. Prior to treatment, Vaseline will be applied as a lubricant to the skin around the neck area, and an alcohol pad will be used to clean the instrument. Then, using an M2T blade at a 45° angle, long, slow strokes over the muscle will be performed, beginning at its insertion and ending at its origin, for 2 to 3 minutes . If the participant felt a burning sensation, it will be instructed to apply an ice pack plus tradional therapy.

tradional therapy

Other

the patients will receive tradional therapy in the form of 10 minutes of moist heat (hot pack) isometric strengthening exercises for all cervical muscles by applying manual resistance on the side of the head for side bending, the occiput for extension, and the forehead for flexion.The resistance will be sustained for 10 seconds and repeated 10 to 15 times, then they will receive stretching exercises for extensor muscles for 30 seconds and repeated 3 times in every session. Finally, active ROM exercises for the neck and chin will be performed

Primary outcomes

  1. neck disability

    Time frame: up to four weeks

    The arabic version of Neck Disability Index (NDI) will be used. it is a 10-item, self-administered questionnaire measuring neck pain-related disability, with scores ranging from 0-50 or 0-100%. Higher scores indicate greater disability.

Secondary outcomes

  1. pain intensity

    Time frame: up to four weeks

    visual analogue scale will be used to assess pain intensity. The most simple VAS is a straight horizontal line of fixed length, usually 100 mm. The ends are defined as the extreme limits of the parameter to be measured (symptom , pain ,health) orientated from the left (worst) to the right (best).

  2. cervical range of motion

    Time frame: up to four weeks

    cervical range of motion device will be used to assess cervical range of motion

  3. joint position error (cervical proprioception)

    Time frame: up to four weeks

    Proprioception is the ability to sense the position and movement of our body without visual feedback. The cervical spine works as a sensory system that relies heavily on mechanoreceptors, like muscle spindles, that detect mechanical changes within tissue. cervical proprioception will be measured by cervical range of motion device.

  4. pressure pain threshold

    Time frame: up to four weeks

    pressure algometer device will be used to assess pressure pain threshold

  5. The Absolute Rotation Angle (ARA) C2-C7

    Time frame: up to four weeks

    The Absolute Rotation Angle (ARA) C2-C7 is a key measurement of sagittal cervical lordosis on standing lateral radiographs, typically calculated as the angle between the inferior endplates of C2 and C7. A normal range often falls between 10° and 35°. C2-C7 Cobb angle (measured differently, from C2 inferior endplate to C7 inferior endplate). Kinovea software will be used to assess ARA.

  6. The relative rotation angle between the occiput (C0) and C2

    Time frame: up to four weeks

    The relative rotation angle between the occiput (C0) and C2 is a critical metric for evaluating upper cervical spine mobility and stability. In healthy individuals, the average O-C2 angle (often reported as the O-C2 angle or OC2A) is approximately 14.5° ± 3.7°. this angle will be measured by Kinovea software.

  7. relative rotatory angle between c1 and c2

    Time frame: up to four weeks

    This angle between the axis and the atlas. The normal range is 29 degree. this angle will be measured by kinovea softwear.

  8. Anterior head translation (AHT) distance

    Time frame: up to four weeks

    Anterior head translation (AHT), or forward head posture, is typically measured as the horizontal distance between the vertical line of the C7 spinous process and the posterior superior corner of the C2 vertebra (or tragus of the ear). A normal head position generally shows an anterior displacement of less than 15 mm, while values exceeding this are classified as forward head posture.this disatance will be measured by kinovea softwear.

  9. deep cervical flexor endurance

    Time frame: up to four weeks

    cranio cervical flexion test with pressure biofeedback will be used to assess deep cervical flexor endurance.During the CCF test, the pressure biofeedback instrument was placed under the neutral cervical spine below the occiput and inflated up to 20 mmHg. CCF (gentle head nodding of head as if saying "yes") movements were demonstrated during the test. Substitution with superficial neck flexors, head retraction. The subjects performed this movement at 5 different pressure levels, i.e., 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30 mmHg, with 30 s rest between each repetition. Each level was supposed to be held for 10 s, and the test was terminated if they were unable to hold the position for 10 s at any level or if the maximum level was achieved (30 mmHg). This value was used to create an index to score the muscle endurance out of a total of 100, and the minimum requirement for satisfactory endurance was 26 mmHg

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Nabil Abdel-Aal, professor

CONTACT

[email protected]

01200133613

haidy fouad, phd

CONTACT

[email protected]

0 12 23848175

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Cairo University

Other

Registry information

Acronym: CNP

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
May 20, 2026
Registry last updated
May 20, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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