Effects of Muscle Energy Technique on Neck Disability and Cervical Range of Motion in Individuals With Non-Specific Neck Pain (MET-NP)

April 9, 2026 updated by: Prof. Dr. Deniz Demirci, Uskudar University

The Effect of Muscle Energy Technique on Neck Disability and Cervical Range of Motion in Patients With Non-Specific Neck Pain

This study aims to investigate the effect of the Muscle Energy Technique on neck disability level and cervical range of motion in individuals with non-specific neck pain. The study will be conducted at Avicenna International Hospital in Istanbul. Participants with non-specific neck pain will be included in the study. The intervention will involve the application of Muscle Energy Technique, and outcomes will be assessed using standardized measures of neck disability and cervical range of motion. The findings are expected to contribute to improving treatment approaches for individuals with non-specific neck pain.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study is designed to evaluate the effects of the Muscle Energy Technique (MET) on neck disability and cervical range of motion in individuals with non-specific neck pain. Non-specific neck pain is a common musculoskeletal condition that may lead to functional limitations and reduced quality of life.

The study will be conducted at Avicenna International Hospital in Istanbul. Participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be recruited and evaluated before and after the intervention.

The Muscle Energy Technique will be applied as the primary intervention. Outcome measures will include the Neck Disability Index (NDI) to assess disability level and goniometric measurements to evaluate cervical range of motion.

Pre- and post-intervention comparisons will be performed to determine the effectiveness of the Muscle Energy Technique. The results of this study are expected to provide evidence regarding the clinical effectiveness of MET in the management of non-specific neck pain and contribute to physiotherapy practice.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

60

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

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
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Age between 18 and 65 years Diagnosis of non-specific neck pain Presence of neck pain for at least 4 weeks Ability to understand and follow instructions Willingness to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

History of cervical spine surgery Presence of neurological deficits or radiculopathy Specific causes of neck pain (e.g., tumor, infection, fracture) Severe cervical disc herniation Pregnancy Any contraindication to manual therapy

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: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Muscle Energy Technique Group
Participants in this group will receive the Muscle Energy Technique (MET) intervention applied to the cervical region. The technique will be used to improve neck disability and increase cervical range of motion in individuals with non-specific neck pain. Pre- and post-intervention assessments will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention.
Behavioral: Arm 1-Muscle Energy Technique (MET)
Arm 1-The Muscle Energy Technique (MET) will be applied to the cervical region of participants with non-specific neck pain. The technique will involve the patient performing isometric muscle contractions against a therapist-applied resistance, followed by relaxation and stretching. The intervention will aim to reduce neck pain, improve neck disability, and increase cervical range of motion. The treatment will be applied in a standardized protocol over the study period, with pre- and post-intervention assessments conducted.
Active Comparator: Control Group
Participants in this group will receive a standard electrotherapy protocol. The intervention will be applied according to routine clinical practice for individuals with non-specific neck pain. No Muscle Energy Technique (MET) will be applied in this group. Pre- and post-intervention assessments will be conducted.
Device: Arm 2- Standard Electrotherapy
Arm 2 - Standard Electrotherapy Participants in this group will receive a standard electrotherapy protocol applied to the cervical region. The intervention will be administered according to routine clinical practice for non-specific neck pain. Electrotherapy parameters will be applied consistently during the treatment sessions. No Muscle Energy Technique (MET) will be used in this group. Pre- and post-intervention assessments will be conducted to evaluate outcomes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Neck Disability Index
Time Frame: Baseline and at the end of the 10-day treatment period
Neck disability will be assessed using a validated neck disability questionnaire (e.g., Neck Disability Index - NDI). This scale evaluates the level of disability related to neck pain and daily functional limitations. Neck Disability Index (NDI) score (range: 0 to 50; higher scores indicate greater disability and worse outcome)
Baseline and at the end of the 10-day treatment period

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cervical Range of Motion
Time Frame: Baseline and at the end of the 10-day treatment period
Cervical range of motion (ROM) will be measured using a goniometer or inclinometer. rotation movements will be evaluated to determine the functional mobility of the cervical spine. Cervical Range of Motion (degrees; higher values indicate better mobility)
Baseline and at the end of the 10-day treatment period

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Uskudar 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)

January 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 2, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 9, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

April 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 9, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • USKU-2026-TCT-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared due to privacy and ethical considerations.

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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