Muscle Energy Technique With And Without Myofascial Release in Patients With Cervicogenic Headache

This randomized controlled trial compared the effects of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) with and without Myofascial Release (MFR) in patients with cervicogenic headache. Forty participants aged 20-40 years were randomly assigned into two groups: MET only and MET combined with MFR. The intervention was delivered over five sessions across two weeks. Outcomes included pain intensity (VAS), cervical range of motion, and disability (Neck Disability Index), assessed at baseline and post-intervention. The study evaluated which intervention produced greater improvements in pain, function, and cervical mobility.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cervicogenic Headache
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Muscle Energy Technique (MET); Procedure: Myofascial Release (MFR)

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare the effects of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) with and without Myofascial Release (MFR) in patients with cervicogenic headache. Cervicogenic headache is a secondary headache arising from dysfunctions of the cervical spine and associated muscular structures.

A total of 40 participants aged between 20 and 40 years were recruited and randomly allocated into two equal groups. Group A received Muscle Energy Technique alone, while Group B received a combination of Muscle Energy Technique and Myofascial Release. The intervention was delivered over five treatment sessions within a period of two weeks.

Outcome measures included pain intensity assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), cervical range of motion measured with a goniometer, and functional disability assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Assessments were performed at baseline and after completion of the intervention period.

The objective of the study was to determine whether the addition of Myofascial Release to Muscle Energy Technique provides superior improvements in pain reduction, cervical mobility, and functional disability compared to Muscle Energy Technique alone in patients with cervicogenic headache.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab Province
    • Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan
      • University of Lahore

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participants aged 20 to 40 years
• Diagnosed with cervicogenic headache
• Both male and female participants
• Participants willing to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of cervical fracture or surgery
• Neurological disorders affecting the cervical region
• Severe cervical spine pathology
• Participants receiving other forms of manual therapy

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
Active Comparator: Muscle Energy Technique (MET); Participants in this group received Muscle Energy Technique (MET) alone. The intervention was applied over five treatment sessions within two weeks. This group served as the comparison group to evaluate the effects of MET without Myofascial Release.	Procedure: Muscle Energy Technique (MET); Muscle Energy Technique (MET) was applied to the cervical region muscles using isometric contractions followed by passive stretching. The technique was performed in a controlled manner to improve muscle flexibility, reduce pain, and enhance cervical mobility over five treatment sessions within two weeks.; Other Names: Muscle Energy Technique
Experimental: Muscle Energy Technique (MET) + Myofascial Release (MFR); Participants in this group received a combination of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and Myofascial Release (MFR). The intervention was delivered over five treatment sessions within two weeks to evaluate its combined effect on pain, cervical range of motion, and disability.	Procedure: Muscle Energy Technique (MET); Muscle Energy Technique (MET) was applied to the cervical region muscles using isometric contractions followed by passive stretching. The technique was performed in a controlled manner to improve muscle flexibility, reduce pain, and enhance cervical mobility over five treatment sessions within two weeks.; Other Names: Muscle Energy Technique; Procedure: Myofascial Release (MFR); Sustained manual pressure applied to cervical and upper trapezius muscles to release fascial restrictions.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain Intensity (Viscual Analogue Scale)	Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The scale ranges from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates worst possible pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.	Baseline and 2 weeks post-intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cervical Range of Motion	Cervical range of motion was assessed using a goniometer to measure flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation of the cervical spine.	Baseline and 2 weeks post-intervention
Neck Disability Measured by Neck Disability Index (NDI)	Functional disability was assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). The scale ranges from 0 to 50, where higher scores indicate greater disability related to neck pain.	Baseline and 2 weeks post-intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Lahore

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Samreen Z, Waseem I, Mustansar A. Muscle Energy Technique With and Without Myofascial Release in Patients with Cervicogenic Headache. Insights in Journal of Health Research. 2025. https://doi.org/10.71000/vy8k2r11

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 25, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 25, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): December 15, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 1, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 1, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 7, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 12, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 7, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Headache Disorders; Headache Disorders, Secondary; Post-Traumatic Headache; Therapeutics; Complementary Therapies; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation; Therapy, Soft Tissue; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Massage; Myofascial Release Therapy
• Other Study ID Numbers: MS-UOL-2024-01

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