Comparative Effects of Muscle Energy Technique and Modified Active Release Technique in Scapulocostal Syndrome.

February 4, 2026 updated by: Riphah International University

Comparative Effects of Muscle Energy Technique and Modified Active Release Technique in Patients With Scapulocostal Syndrome.

The study was conducted to determine the comparative effects of Muscle Energy Technique and Modified Active Release Technique on Pain, Chest expansion and Functional disability in patients with Scapulocostal Syndrome.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

46

Phase

  • 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
      • Sialkot, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 51310
        • AAHAD Hospital Sialkot.

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age between 18-40 yrs.
  • Both male and females with shoulder-neck pain.
  • NPRS value> than 3.
  • Chest expansion value < than 3cm are included.
  • Subjects with Upper Trapezius, Levator Scapulae and Rhomboid muscles tenderness.
  • Pain duration should be present for at least for 3 months before inclusion in the study.
  • Presence of 1 to 3 trigger points in upper trapezius, levator scapulae, and rhombhoids (MTrP) causing referred pain pattern with palpable taut band of muscle.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Thoracic outlet syndrome.
  • Brachial neuralgia.
  • Local neck and shoulder disorder.
  • Adhesive Capsulitis.
  • Cervical Radiculopathy.
  • Trauma or Injury around Scapular area.
  • Past Surgical Area.
  • Any cardiovascular or Respiratory pathology.
  • People with psychiatric illness such as depression.

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: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Muscle Energy Technique
Other: Muscle Energy Technique

Muscle Energy Technique (PIR) began by putting the muscles in stretched position. An isometric contraction was exerted against minimum resistance. Followed by Relaxation, then gentle stretch followed as the muscle releases. Tight, tender muscles commonly suffering with pain undergoes such techniques. All the contraction were hold for 10 seconds for each muscle i.e. 10 repetitions followed with 20 seconds rest time.

  1. MET for upper Trapezius Muscle.
  2. MET for Levator scapulae Muscle
  3. MET for Rhomboid muscle
Other Names:
  • MET
Other: Conventional Physical Therapy
  • Hot pack for 10 minutes.
  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) (frequency: 2Hz and pulse duration 200 μs, 10 minutes
Other Names:
  • Baseline Treatment
Active Comparator: Modified Active Release Technique
Other: Conventional Physical Therapy
  • Hot pack for 10 minutes.
  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) (frequency: 2Hz and pulse duration 200 μs, 10 minutes
Other Names:
  • Baseline Treatment
Other: Modified Active Release Technique

Modified Active Release Technique combined the active movement by patients with the passive movements done by the therapist. During this, participants were instructed to hold every movement for 6seconds with 10 repetitions. Pin and stretch type of modified active release technique was used in the study.

  1. Modified Active Release Technique for Upper trapezius:
  2. Modified Active Release Technique for Levator Scapulae:
  3. Modified Active Release Technique for Rhombhoids.
Other Names:
  • mART

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Numeric Pain Rating Scale
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treament at 6 weeks.
Patient's pain level was accessed using NPRS. It is a tool used to check the severity of pain, on a scale of 0 to 10, 0 indicates no pain, 1-3 means mild pain,4to 6 indicates moderate pain, and 7 to 10 value shows severe pain. Patient rates their level of pain at that time and the less and severe pain level in previous 24 hours, Then the average is taken by using 3 values. Validity of NPRS is 0.86 and reliability 0.96.
From enrollment to the end of treament at 6 weeks.
Neck Disability Index.
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Neck Disability index is a tool to check the neck complaints. Developed from Oswestry Index of neck pain and neck disability index. It is based on activites of daily life and provide a good functional value. This scale consists of 10 sections, each section contains 5 further questions of daily life activities affected, each section scored 0 to 5. The subject was asked to answer these questions. By dividing the total scores over number of questions answered and multiply by 100, the index was calculated. The validity and realibility of NDI is good
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Measuring Inches Tape
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of study at 6 weeks
Measuring Tape is used to measure Chest expansion. It is a reliable, non-invasive and simple method. Chest Expansion is measured by thoracic girth difference, after maximal inspiration, and at maximal expiration end point. There are several anatomical landmarks to measures upper and lower chest expansion. Anatomical landmarks are 4th intercostal space, axillary lines, and thoracic vertebrae (3rd ,5th .12th) and 10th thoracic vertebrae and xiphoid process. 4th Intercostal space and axillary lines were used to measure chest expansion in this study at both levels. The 2-instruction evaluated were, "breathe in maximally, breathe out maximally". And value were recorded at end of Maximal inhalation and maximal exhalation. A difference in these values were then calculated. An acceptable Reliability by ICC was determined. Value > 0.85 and SEMs < 5%.
From enrollment to the end of study at 6 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
ROM Cervical Spine (Flexion)
Time Frame: from enrollment to the end at 6th week of treatment.
Changes in cervical spine flexion ROM at baseline and at 6th week of intervention was measured using Goniometer.
from enrollment to the end at 6th week of treatment.
ROM Cervical Spine (Extension)
Time Frame: from enrollments to the end of treatment at 6 weeks.
Changes in cervical spine extension ROM at baseline and at 6th week of intervention was measured using Goniometer.
from enrollments to the end of treatment at 6 weeks.
ROM Cervical Spine (Left Lateral Flexion).
Time Frame: From Enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Changes in cervical spine left lateral flexion ROM at baseline and at 6th week of intervention was measured using Goniometer.
From Enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
ROM Cervical Spine (Right Lateral Flexion)
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks.
Changes in cervical spine right lateral flexion flexion ROM at baseline and at 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

Riphah International University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Rafia Mannan, MS-SPT, Riphah International University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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)

January 10, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

July 28, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

October 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 4, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 4, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

February 11, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 11, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 4, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • REC/RCR & AHS/24/01105

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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