Effects of Muscle Specific as Compared to Movement Specific Muscle Energy Technique on Isometric Muscle Strength and Muscular Endurance in Individuals With Mechanical Neck Pain

Neck pain, prevalent in young adults due to poor posture, sedentary habits, and muscle imbalance. This study aims to compare the effects of muscle-specific versus movement-specific MET on pain, isometric muscle strength, and endurance of neck flexors and extensors. Pre- and post-intervention assessments using VAS, Modified Sphygmomanometer Dynamometer, and cranio-cervical flexion/extension tests will evaluate treatment outcomes.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Neck Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Muscle specific muscle energy technique; Procedure: Movement specific muscle energy technique

Detailed Description

Neck pain, affecting nearly 75.7% of young adults, is commonly linked to poor posture, sedentary lifestyles, and muscle imbalances. If left untreated, it may lead to disability and degenerative changes. Among rehabilitation approaches, muscle energy techniques (METs) have shown effectiveness in improving pain, mobility, and function by targeting neuromuscular dysfunction. This study aims to compare the effects of muscle- specific MET with movement-specific MET on pain, isometric muscle strength, and muscular endurance of neck flexors and extensors in individuals with neck pain. A randomized control trial will be conducted using purposive sampling. Thirty participants will be divided into two groups: Group A (movement-specific MET) and Group B (muscle-specific MET), with both groups following a standard protocol of Tens and Hotpack applied for 10 mins proceeding every session for five sessions.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Zaib ul Hassan, DPT; Phone Number: +92336-5667805; Email: zaibulhassan13@gmail.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Hafiza Ali Bin Asim, MS-SPT; Phone Number: +923135088144; Email: ali.asim@fui.edu.pk

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab Province
    • Islamabad, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 46000
      • Recruiting
      • Foundation University Islamabad
      • Contact: Zaib ul Hassan, DPT; Phone Number: +92336-5667805; Email: zaibulhassan13@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion criteria

• Age 19-44 years.
• Both Genders (Male and Female).
• Limitation on cervical motion
• Pain ranging from 40-80 mm on visual analogue scale (VAS)

Exclusion criteria

• Participants with a positive history of fracture, surgery or trauma in the neck region, thoracic outlet syndrome, infection, any malignancy.
• Vascular syndromes such as vertebrobasilar insufficiency.
• Inflammatory, or rheumatic disorders, cervical radiculopathy, myelopathy, spondylosis, or syringomyelia.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: A:Muscle specific muscle energy technique; Group A receives Muscle specific muscle energy technique. Tens and Hotpack 10 mins preceding every session.	Procedure: Muscle specific muscle energy technique; In the muscle specific MET group, the participants were given post-isometric relaxation MET targeted at muscles of the neck region that are prone to get short, including anterior, middle and posterior Scalene, Sternocleidomastoid, Levator Scapulae and upper fibers of Trapezius muscle. Active Contraction: The participant rotated left (opposite direction) with 30-50% effort against the therapist's resistance for 7-10 seconds. Relaxation: The participant relaxed completely. Stretching: The therapist gently moved the head towards the restricted range (right rotation) and held the stretch for 10-60 seconds. This technique enhances mobility and reduces muscular tension by combining. Tens and Hot pack therapy for both groups preceding every session for 10 mins.
Experimental: B: Movement specific muscle energy technique; Group B receives Movement specific muscle energy technique. Tens and Hotpack preceding every session for 10 mins.	Procedure: Movement specific muscle energy technique; In the movement-specific group, participants received Post-Isometric Relaxation MET targeting cervical spine movements (flexion, extension, rotation, lateral flexion). For example, during right rotation: Active Contraction: The participant rotated left (opposite direction) with 30-50% effort against the therapist's resistance for 7-10 seconds. Relaxation: The participant relaxed completely. Stretching: The therapist gently moved the head towards the restricted range (right rotation) and held the stretch for 10-60 seconds. This technique enhances mobility and reduces muscular tension by combining contraction, relaxation, and stretching.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain Intensity	Visual Analog Scale will be used for measuring pain intensity, 0 is no pain and 10 is worst pain.	5 days
Isometric muscle strength	Modified Sphygmomanometer Dynamometer will be used to measure isometric muscle strength. In which Higher pressure is stronger muscles; lower values suggest weakness or dysfunction.	5 days
Muscle endurance	Cranio-cervical flexion Test/ Cranio-cervical extension Test will be used for measuring muscle endurance. Strong contraction means normal; weakness suggests flexors/extensors' dysfunction.	5 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Foundation University Islamabad

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 15, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 29, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 29, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): January 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 9, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 29, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: muscle strength; Movement Specific Muscle Energy Technique; Muscle Specific Muscle Energy Technique
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Neck Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: FUI/CTR/2025/25

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No