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

NCT ID: NCT05475405

Last Updated: 2022-09-07

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 32 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-08-01
• Study Completion Date: 2022-07-31

Brief Summary

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

Detailed Description

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.

Conditions

Mechanical Neck Pain

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Scapulothoracic mobilization along with conventional physical therapy for mechanical neck pain.

conventional physical therapy:

Scapulothoracic mobilization:

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.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

scapulothoracic mobilization

Intervention Type: 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 with conventional physical therapy for mechanical neck pain

Conventional Physical Therapy:

IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Technique):

Patient sitting or prone lying Restrictions and myofascial adhesions assessed prior to treatment fanning strokes at 45 degree angles to skin be applied using the tool

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

IASTM

Intervention Type: 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

Interventions

scapulothoracic mobilization

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.

Intervention Type: OTHER

IASTM

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

Intervention Type: OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Instrument assisted Soft tissue mobilization.

Eligibility Criteria

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)

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 40 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Riphah International University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Muhammad Affan Iqbal, PhD*

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Riphah International University

Locations

Pakistan Railway General Hospital

Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, Pakistan

Countries

Pakistan

Other Identifiers

REC/01073 Iqra

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id