Mulligan Technique for Chronic Neck Pain in Adults

NCT ID: NCT07167108

Last Updated: 2025-09-11

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 76 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-03-02
• Study Completion Date: 2025-06-05

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate the effect of the Mulligan Technique, a manual therapy method, on reducing chronic neck pain and improving neck movement in adults aged 18 to 65 years. Participants will receive treatment sessions, and their pain levels and range of motion will be assessed. The goal is to determine if this technique can help improve quality of life for people suffering from chronic neck pain.

Detailed Description

Seventy-six participants with chronic neck pain, aged between 18 and 65 years, were selected on the basis of selection criteria. The pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the cervical range of motion (ROM) was measured using the universal goniometer, and the functional disability was measured using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Patients were randomly assigned to two Groups A and B. Control group (A) (n = 32) received a conventional physical therapy program that included exercises, electrical stimulation, and massage. The experimental group (B) (n=38) received the same conventional program, with the addition of the Mulligan technique. Six participants were excluded from the study. Both groups underwent treatment 3 times per week for 4 weeks, and measurements were taken before and after the treatment period. For data entry and statistical analysis, (SPSS version 20) was used. The independent samples t-test was capture summarize and interpret data and 95 percent of the confidence interval is covered.

Conditions

Chronic Neck Pain

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Control group received a conventional physical therapy program

Control group (A) (n = 32) received a conventional physical therapy program that included exercises, electrical stimulation, and massage.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Conventional Physical Therapy Program

Intervention Type: OTHER

Included exercises, electrical stimulation, and massage.

The experimental group received conventional program, with addition to Mulligan technique

The experimental group (B) (n=38) received the same conventional physical therapy program, with the addition of the Mulligan technique.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Conventional program, with addition to Mulligan technique

Intervention Type: OTHER

The Mulligan Concept is a manual therapy approach developed by New Zealand physiotherapist Brian Mulligan in the 1980s. It includes techniques such as Mobilization with Movement (MWM) and the Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glide (SNAG), which have attracted significant attention for their effectiveness in treating neck pain. Recent research has supported the benefits of physiotherapy interventions like SNAGs in improving cervical range of motion (ROM) and reducing pain.

Interventions

Conventional program, with addition to Mulligan technique

The Mulligan Concept is a manual therapy approach developed by New Zealand physiotherapist Brian Mulligan in the 1980s. It includes techniques such as Mobilization with Movement (MWM) and the Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glide (SNAG), which have attracted significant attention for their effectiveness in treating neck pain. Recent research has supported the benefits of physiotherapy interventions like SNAGs in improving cervical range of motion (ROM) and reducing pain.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Conventional Physical Therapy Program

Included exercises, electrical stimulation, and massage.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Mulligan Concept

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Age between 18-65 years.
• Chronic mechanical neck pain (≥ 3 months).
• Limited cervical range of motion (ROM).
• Medically diagnosed with non-specific neck pain.
• Able to attend treatment sessions.

Exclusion Criteria

• Radiating pain to the upper limb.
• Signs of nerve root compression or disc herniation.
• History of cervical spine surgery or major trauma.
• Inflammatory joint diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis).
• Osteoporosis or systemic medical conditions affecting bone/joint health.
• Fibromyalgia or central nervous system disorders.
• Contraindications to manual therapy (e.g., pacemaker, vascular disorders).
• Recent physical therapy or steroid injections (within past 3-12 months).
• Long-term use of corticosteroids or pain medications.
• Pregnancy.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Prof. Mosab Saleem Hamed Amoudi

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Prof. Mosab Saleem Hamed Amoudi

Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Amoudi

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Arab American University (Palestine)

Mosab S Amoudi

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Arab American University - Jenin

Locations

PhysioFlex - Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Center-Nablus

Nablus, Nablus, Palestinian Territories

Countries

Palestinian Territories

Other Identifiers

AAUJ-PT-2025-01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id