Novel Physiotherapies

Biography

Biography: Abhijit Dutta

Abstract

Background: Mechanical neck pain is a common problem within our society. Neck pain as defined by Mersky is the pain “anywhere within the region bounded superiorly by superior nuchal line, inferiorly by an imaginary line through the tip of first thoracic spinous process and laterally by saggital plane tangential to the lateral borders of the neck. Upper trapezius and the levator scapulae are the most common postural muscles that tend to get shorten leading to restricted neck mobility. Objectives: To evaluate the comparative effectiveness of muscle energy technique (MFT) and myofascial trigger (MFTr) point release of upper trapezius in mechanical neck pain. Methods: It was a comparative experimental study. This study includes (N=40) subjects with mechanical neck pain within age group of 25-45 years. They were randomly assigned into 2 groups (Group A and B). Group A had 20 (N=20) subjects who are treated with myofascial trigger point release, Group B had 20 (N=20) who are treated with muscle energy technique. The subjects were given intervention 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks. Results: Paired sample t-test was used for within group analysis. Independent sample t-test was done to analyze between group variables. No significant difference was found in NDI (p<1.18), SFMPQ (p<1.17), ROM (p<1.91) between MET and MFTr groups while within the groups all outcome measures shows significant difference in both MET and MFTr groups (p=0.00). Conclusion: This study concluded that both the treatment techniques, MET and MFTr were effective in alleviating the mechanical neck pain in terms of decreasing pain intensity, increasing functional ability and increasing active cervical range of motion as there was no significant difference between the two groups, however MET was superior than MFTr in decreasing pain intensity, increasing the functional ability and increasing the active cervical range of motion.