Comparing Muscle Energy Technique and Bowen Therapy for Pain, Movement, and Disability in Text Neck Syndrome

NCT ID: NCT07189351

Last Updated: 2025-09-23

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 78 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-09-30
• Study Completion Date: 2025-12-31

Brief Summary

This study compared the effects of Muscle Energy Technique and Bowen Therapy on patients with Text Neck Syndrome's pain, function ROM, and posture. Today, text neck syndrome is a growing issue. The majority of us experience this unpleasant condition to some extent. There is no study that has compared the effects of muscle energy technique and Bowen therapy, although they can both be quite effective in helping individuals with text neck syndrome reduce their discomfort, improve their range of motion, and improve their functional impairment. So, the goal of this study was to compare the two treatments' results in order to determine whether one was a better method for treating text neck syndrome patients' discomfort by enhancing range of motion and functional impairment.

Conditions

Text Neck Syndrome

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Bowen Therapy with Hot Pack

Participants in this group received a hot pack followed by Bowen Therapy in prone lying position. Treatment was administered on alternate days for 6 weeks, with each session lasting 15-20 minutes. Assessments were performed at baseline, week 3, and week 6, with a follow-up at 3 weeks post-treatment.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Bowen Therapy

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants received a hot pack, followed by Bowen Therapy performed in prone lying position on a plinth. Bowen moves were applied to soft tissues and muscles of the neck and upper back, aiming to reduce muscle tension and pain. Sessions lasted 15-20 minutes, administered on alternate days for 6 weeks. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 3rd week, 6th week, and at 3-week follow-up.

Muscle Energy Technique (Post-Isometric Relaxation)

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants received a hot pack applied over the neck and upper back area for 7-10 minutes, followed by Muscle Energy Technique in supine lying position. Post-isometric relaxation was used for upper trapezius, levator scapulae, scalenus, and sternocleidomastoid muscles. A moderate isometric contraction was held for 5 seconds, followed by 3 seconds of relaxation, with 5 repetitions per muscle. Sessions were given on alternate days for 6 weeks. Assessments were performed at baseline, 3rd week, 6th week, and at 3-week follow-up.

Muscle Energy Technique with Hot Pack

Participants in this group received a hot pack applied to the neck and upper back area for 7-10 minutes, followed by Muscle Energy Technique (Post-Isometric Relaxation) for the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, scalenus, and sternocleidomastoid muscles in supine lying position. Each contraction lasted 5 seconds followed by 3 seconds of relaxation, with 5 repetitions per muscle. Treatment was given on alternate days for 6 weeks, with assessments at baseline, week 3, and week 6, and a follow-up after 3 weeks.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Bowen Therapy

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants received a hot pack, followed by Bowen Therapy performed in prone lying position on a plinth. Bowen moves were applied to soft tissues and muscles of the neck and upper back, aiming to reduce muscle tension and pain. Sessions lasted 15-20 minutes, administered on alternate days for 6 weeks. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 3rd week, 6th week, and at 3-week follow-up.

Muscle Energy Technique (Post-Isometric Relaxation)

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants received a hot pack applied over the neck and upper back area for 7-10 minutes, followed by Muscle Energy Technique in supine lying position. Post-isometric relaxation was used for upper trapezius, levator scapulae, scalenus, and sternocleidomastoid muscles. A moderate isometric contraction was held for 5 seconds, followed by 3 seconds of relaxation, with 5 repetitions per muscle. Sessions were given on alternate days for 6 weeks. Assessments were performed at baseline, 3rd week, 6th week, and at 3-week follow-up.

Interventions

Bowen Therapy

Participants received a hot pack, followed by Bowen Therapy performed in prone lying position on a plinth. Bowen moves were applied to soft tissues and muscles of the neck and upper back, aiming to reduce muscle tension and pain. Sessions lasted 15-20 minutes, administered on alternate days for 6 weeks. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 3rd week, 6th week, and at 3-week follow-up.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Muscle Energy Technique (Post-Isometric Relaxation)

Participants received a hot pack applied over the neck and upper back area for 7-10 minutes, followed by Muscle Energy Technique in supine lying position. Post-isometric relaxation was used for upper trapezius, levator scapulae, scalenus, and sternocleidomastoid muscles. A moderate isometric contraction was held for 5 seconds, followed by 3 seconds of relaxation, with 5 repetitions per muscle. Sessions were given on alternate days for 6 weeks. Assessments were performed at baseline, 3rd week, 6th week, and at 3-week follow-up.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• • Age 18-35 years

• Both genders
• Using smart phone more than 4 hours per day and pain from last 6 months.
• Neck disability index greater than 10. (Seemal et al., 2022)

Exclusion Criteria

• • Subjects who had signs of recent surgery.

• Whiplash injury or open wounds.
• Cervical spine pathologies like radiculopathies, disc herniation, spondylolisthesis, sensory changes in neck region..
• Deformities like torticollis.
• Any inflammatory or malignant type of pain.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 35 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University of Lahore

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Aqsa Majeed

Dr.Aqsa Majeed

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Other Identifiers

Asma

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id