Effect of Myofascial Release Therapy on University Students With Text Neck Syndrome.

February 24, 2026 updated by: Zara Zahid, University of Health Sciences Lahore

Effect of Myofascial Release Therapy on Neck Pain, Perceived Stress and Forward Head Posture in University Students With Text Neck Syndrome.

This randomized controlled trial aims to determine the effectiveness of myofascial release therapy in university students with text neck syndrome as prolonged smartphone and digital gadgets use has been associated with neck pain, forward head posture, and increased perceived stress among young adults with screen time more than 3 hours. Participants will be randomly allocated into control group and intervention group and will be treated for 4 weeks. Clinical outcomes including neck pain, neck pain intensity, craniovertebral angle for posture assessment, and perceived stress levels will be measured at baseline and post-intervention. The study seeks to determine whether Myofascial Release Therapy acts as a non-invasive technique in improving musculoskeletal and psychosocial parameters related to text neck.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Text Neck Syndrome is a growing musculoskeletal concern among university students due to prolonged use of smartphones, tablets, and other digital devices in a posture that involves prolonged neck flexion. Sustained cervical flexion postures contribute to mechanical neck pain, reduced craniovertebral angle, muscular tightness, and increased psychological stress. Early intervention is important to prevent chronic dysfunction and long-term disability.

This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial involving university students who meet the inclusion criteria for Text Neck Syndrome. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned into two groups: an experimental group receiving Myofascial Release Therapy and a control group receiving conventional physiotherapy consisting of postural correction strategies and structured stretching exercises.

The intervention will be delivered for 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Outcome measures will be recorded at baseline and after completion of the intervention period. Outcome variables include neck pain assessed using VAS , neck pain intensity measured through the Neck Disability Index, forward head posture quantified using craniovertebral angle measurement through a valid and reliable software; Kinovea Software and perceived stress assessed using PSS-10.

Data will be analyzed to compare within-group and between-group differences to determine the relative effectiveness of Myofascial Release Therapy in improving musculoskeletal alignment, reducing neck pain and addressing stress-related components associated with Text Neck Syndrome.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

62

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 Contact

Study Locations

  • Pakistan
      • Lahore, Pakistan
        • Recruiting
        • Dr. Wajeeha Mahmood
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Zara Zahid, DPT
    • Punjab Province
      • Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 54600
        • Recruiting
        • Zara Zahid
        • Contact:

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:

  • 1. university students from age group of 18-30 2. Both genders 3. Students with Text Neck Syndrome diagnosed via Forward head Posture (through measuring craniovertebral angle) <50° 4. Minimum Pain measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) ≥ 3/10 5. Pain Intensity measured through Neck Disability Index (NDI > 10%) 6. A PSS-10 Score of >14 in individuals with daily gadget use and FHP. 7. Usage of handheld digital gadgets including smartphones and tablets ≥ 3 hours

Exclusion Criteria:

  • 1. History of cervical trauma, surgery or any spine deformity which is congenital 2. History of diagnosed cervical disorders i.e cervical spondylosis, cervical spondylolisthesis, disc herniation 3. Any diagnosed neurological condition which affects cognition or any previous cervical spine surgery 4. Any history of diagnosed anxiety and psychiatric conditions 5. Currently receiving any form of physical therapy or using any muscle relaxants or painkillers

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: Intervention
Participants will receive Myofascial Release Therapy targeting neck and upper back which will release the fascial restrictions by providing sustained pressure. Outcomes such as neck pain, forward head posture, and perceived stress will be measured after the intervention.
Behavioral: Myofascial Release Therapy
Participants will receive Myofascial Release Therapy targeting neck and upper back muscles, 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks. This is a physical therapy intervention.
Behavioral: Standard Care (Treatment as Usual)
Participants will receive conventional physiotherapy including postural correction exercises, stretching of neck and upper back muscles, and ergonomic education. Outcomes will be measured after the intervention.
Active Comparator: Conventional Physical Therapy
Participants will receive conventional physiotherapy including postural correction exercises, stretching of neck and upper back muscles, and ergonomic education. Outcomes will be measured after the intervention.
Behavioral: Standard Care (Treatment as Usual)
Participants will receive conventional physiotherapy including postural correction exercises, stretching of neck and upper back muscles, and ergonomic education. Outcomes will be measured after the intervention.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Neck Pain
Time Frame: Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention
Neck pain will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), where participants rate their pain intensity on a scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain)
Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention
Perceived Stress
Time Frame: Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention
Perceived stress will be assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), a validated questionnaire measuring the degree to which situations in one's life are appraised as stressful.
Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention
Forward Head Posture
Time Frame: Baseline and after 4 weeks
Forward Head Posture will be measured using the craniovertebral angle (CVA) from lateral photographs using Kinovea Software. A smaller angle indicates a more pronounced forward head posture.
Baseline and after 4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of Health Sciences Lahore

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Zara Zahid, Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of Health Sciences Lahore

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)

February 22, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

March 22, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

April 5, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 24, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 24, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 2, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 2, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 24, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • UHS/USERC-26/SEC/91

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared.

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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