Myofascial Release With and Without Autogenic Inhibition Muscle Energy Technique in Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain

December 29, 2025 updated by: Riphah International University

Effects of Myofascial Release With and Without Autogenic Inhibition Muscle Energy Technique in Patients With Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain

The study was conducted to determine the effects of myofascial release therapy with and without autogenic inhibition muscle energy technique in patients with non-specific chronic neck pain.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
44

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Punjab Province
      • Layyah, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 31200
        • Rehab Max Physio & Sports Injury Clinic

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Neck pain for at least 3 months
  • Pain intensity on NPRS between 4 to 7
  • Limited neck range of motion
  • Use of computer for at least 2 hours daily
  • Negative Sharp-Purser and alar ligaments test (to rule out atlantoaxial instability, integrity of transverse and alar ligaments)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of trauma
  • Cervical spine fracture
  • Open neck surgery
  • Cervical radiculopathy
  • Paresthesia
  • Cervical myelopathy
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Hemorrhage tendency and/or anticoagulation treatment
  • Whiplash Injury

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Myofascial Release with Autogenic Inhibition Muscle Energy Technique
Other: Autogenic Inhibition Muscle Energy Technique
AI MET was applied for upper trapezius 5 times for each side, similarly for levator scapulae it was applied 5 times for each side. AI MET was applied for posterior, middle and anterior fibres of scalene muscle. For sternocleidomastoid muscle it was applied for at least twice for each side. 8 sessions were conducted for 6 weeks, with 3 sessions scheduled every week.
Other: Myofasical Release Therapy
MFR for upper trapezius and levator scapulae was carried out 5 times for each side. A total of 18 sessions were conducted for 6 weeks, with 3 sessions scheduled every week.
Other: Standardized Physiotherapy Treatment
Electric hot pack for 10 minutes for 10 minutes, TENS with frequency of 120Hz at low intensity having pulse duration of 50-200μs for 10 minutes & Grade I and II Maitland posteroanterior central glide with 3 sets of 30 oscillations, for alleviation of pain at the target vertebral segment.
Active Comparator: Myofascial Release Therapy
Other: Myofasical Release Therapy
MFR for upper trapezius and levator scapulae was carried out 5 times for each side. A total of 18 sessions were conducted for 6 weeks, with 3 sessions scheduled every week.
Other: Standardized Physiotherapy Treatment
Electric hot pack for 10 minutes for 10 minutes, TENS with frequency of 120Hz at low intensity having pulse duration of 50-200μs for 10 minutes & Grade I and II Maitland posteroanterior central glide with 3 sets of 30 oscillations, for alleviation of pain at the target vertebral segment.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Numeric Pain Rating Scale
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Numeric Pain Rating Scale is utilized to evaluate pain. It consists of 11 points, having an overall score ranging from 0 and 10, where: 0 represents no pain, 1 - 3 represents mild pain, 4 - 6 represents moderate pain and 7 - 10 represents the most severe pain.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Neck Disability Index
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Neck Disability Index is a questionnaire that has 10-questions for determining cervical pain and functional disability linked with the activities of daily living. It consists of questions on pain intensity, personal care, lifting, reading, headaches, concentration, work, driving, sleeping and recreation. Scores in each item is described in 6 stages, from 0 to 5 points. The total of 0-4 points indicate no disability, 5-14 points indicate mild disability, 15-24 points indicate moderate disability, 25-34 points indicate severe disability and 35-50 points indicate complete disability
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
ROM Cervical Spine (Flexion)
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Changes in cervical spine flexion ROM at baseline and 6th week of intervention was measured using goniometer.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
ROM Cervical Spine (Extension)
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Changes in cervical spine extension ROM at baseline and 6th week of intervention was measured using goniometer.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
ROM Cervical Spine (Lateral Flexion) Left Side
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Changes in cervical spine lateral flexion on left side ROM at baseline and 6th week of intervention was measured using goniometer.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
ROM Cervical Spine (Lateral Flexion) Right Side
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Changes in cervical spine lateral flexion on right side ROM at baseline and 6th week of intervention was measured using goniometer.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
ROM Cervical Spine (Rotation) Left Side
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Changes in cervical spine rotation on left side ROM at baseline and 6th week of intervention was measured using goniometer.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
ROM Cervical Spine (Rotation) Right
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Changes in cervical spine rotation on right side ROM at baseline and 6th week of intervention was measured using goniometer.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Riphah International University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Shakil ur Rehman, Ph.D, Riphah International University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 13, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
May 31, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 29, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 29, 2025

First Posted (Estimated)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 12, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
January 12, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 29, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • REC/RCR & AHS/24/0178

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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