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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05475405

Scapulo-Thoracic Mobilization Compared to IASTM in Patients With Mechanical Neck Pain

SCAPULO-THORACIC MOBILIZATION COMPARED TO IASTM IN PATIENTS WITH MECHANICAL NECK PAIN

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Key information

Conditions

Mechanical Neck Pain

Age range

18 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Pakistan Railway General Hospital

Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, 46010, Pakistan

About this study

Mechanical neck pain is common musculoskeletal condition that causes work disabilities and is not self-limiting. One of the main causes for mechanical neck pain is forward head posture, which is common and but not ideal posture adopted by many workers and students who presents with head being anterior to the shoulder. Imbalances in the normal muscle function reported in such patients with inhibited deep neck flexors, serratus anterior and rhomboids and tightened pectoralis, upper trapezius and levator scapula.

Neck and scapula have some common muscle attachments and abnormal loads on cervical or thoracic spine change the biomechanics of muscles present in these regions, which eventually cause trigger points Management of scapulo-thoracic joint focuses on correcting posture, restoring flexibility of the scapula including the pectoralis minor, levator scapulae, rhomboids, mobilization and soft tissue techniques.

IASTM is ergonomically designed stainless steel tool, and has recently gained much popularity for elevating pain, reducing trigger points and improving ROMs because it has deeply penetrating power as compared to mobilization through hand. This technique works by both along the mobilizing muscle fibers or parallel to the muscle fibers.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Age group 18 to 40 years
  • Both gender groups
  • Non radiating neck pain

Exclusion criteria

  • History of cervical and thoracic spine surgery
  • Vertibro-basilar insufficiency
  • Sign of serious pathology like malignancy
  • Signs of systemic inflammatory disorder
  • Patient with diagnosed hypertension
  • (scapular area pathology)

Treatment and study plan

Scapulothoracic mobilization

Other

Patient in prone lying position. The left hand of the physical therapist lifts the scapula to distract from the thoracic wall while the right hand mobilizes and stretches the inferior muscle groups attached to the scapula.

IASTM

Other

Restrictions and myofascial adhesions should be assessed prior to treatment along both sides using IASTM tool and a lubricant.

Once restrictions are assessed, fanning strokes at 45 degree angles to skin should be applied using the tool. This technique should be performed for 20 seconds parallel to the muscle fibers and 20 seconds perpendicular to the muscle fibers for each muscle group in scapulothoracic region. Total time for IASTM application is 10 mints. Upon completing all this patient should be given a home plan consisting of 2 different self-stretches targeting levator scapulae and upper trapezius

Other names: Instrument assisted Soft tissue mobilization.

Primary outcomes

  1. Numeric Pain Rating Scale

    Time frame: 3 weeks

    Changes from baseline Numeric pain Rating Scale is used to objectively assess musculoskeletal pain as marked by the patient. It is a 10 point scale from 0 to 10. 0 depicts no pain at all and 10 shows worst pain ever felt. It was measured at baseline, at 3rd session after 6th weeks of the intervention.

  2. NDI (neck disability index)

    Time frame: 3 weeks

    The questionnaire has 10 items concerning pain and activities of daily living including personal care, lifting, reading, headaches, concentration, work status, driving, sleeping and recreation. The measure is designed to be given to the patient to complete, and can provide useful information for management and prognosis of those with neck pain

  3. Goniometer

    Time frame: 3 weeks

    goniometer is a device that measures an angle or permits rotation of an object to a definite position

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Riphah International University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Jul 26, 2022
Registry last updated
Sep 7, 2022

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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