Neck PainNCT05581667
The Immediate Effects of Post Isometric Relaxation Techniques
A study testing post isometric relaxation and Swedish Massage in people with Neck Pain, run by Bulent Ecevit University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the immediate effects of Post Isometric Relaxation (PIR) Technique on pain threshold, pain severity and joint range of motion of the cervical region in healthcare workers with neck pain. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 45 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Neck Pain
- What is being tested?
- post isometric relaxation and Swedish Massage
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 7 Oct 2022to 10 Dec 2022
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 20 to 45 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- be a hospital worker
- complaining of neck pain for at least 3 months
- pain intensity at rest is 4 out of 10 according to VAS assessment
- volunteer to participate in the study
Who cannot join
- Having neck pain after trauma to the neck in the last 6 months
- presence of neurological signs; neck pain that has spread to the arm and fingers
- have had spinal surgery
- shoulder pathology
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University
Zonguldak, Kozlu, 67600
About this study
Official title: The Immediate Effects of Post Isometric Relaxation Techniques In Hospital Employees With Neck Pain: A Randomised Control Trial
Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the immediate effects of Post Isometric Relaxation (PIR) Technique on pain threshold, pain severity and joint range of motion of the cervical region in healthcare workers with neck pain.
Method: A total of 30 male and female participants aged 20-45 were randomly divided into two groups (Post Isometric Relaxation (PIR) Technique and Control Group). PIR group participants were under a single session of PIR application with 10 repetitions to m.supraspinatus, the upper part of the m.trapeze and m.levator scapula in addition to classical Swedish massage for neck and upper thoraric region. Control group participants received only classical Swedish massage to the cervical and upper thoracic region. Pain severity (Visual Analog Scale), Pain threshold (digital algometer), range of servical motion (goniometer) were measured at baseline and immediately after the single-session PIR Techniques.
Read the detailed description
Neck pain is the second most common musculoskeletal problem in the world after low back pain in terms of disability and health expenditures. Occupational groups with the highest incidence of neck pain include those working in a hospital environment, office workers, and manual workers.
Post Isometric Relaxation Technique (PIR) is a Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and is used by physiotherapists to relax muscles, reduce pain and increase range of motion. The PIR Technique provides its neurological effects through autogenic inhibition, which results in relaxation in the agonist muscle by inhibiting contraction with the stimuli sent by the group Ib fibers originating from the Golgi tendon organ of the agonist muscle to the medulla spinalis during static stretching.
The aim of our study is to investigate the instantaneous effect of PIR Technique on pain threshold, pain intensity and joint range of motion (neck flexion, extension, right and left rotation, right and left lateral flexion) in hospital workers with neck pain.
This experimental study, which was planned as randomized and single-blind, was planned to be carried out with a total of 30 volunteer participants, male and female, working in a private hospital in Istanbul between 7 October 2022 and 10 December 2022.
- Conditions
- Neck Pain
- Being tested
- post isometric relaxation, Swedish Massage
- Keywords
- neck pain, Post isometric relaxation, hospital employees, pain threshold
- Medical subject headings
- Neck Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
post isometric relaxationOther
PIR is performed by first passively lengthening the muscle, then having the patient lightly contract (10-20% of maximum) against resistance for 5 seconds passively before exhaling and relaxing the muscle and repeated. The clinician then takes up the slack within the muscle and repeats the technique 3 to 5 times
Swedish MassageOther
classic Swedish massage for the cervical and upper thoracic region. Massage is a method that is applied to superficial soft tissues such as muscles, skin, ligaments and fascia and structures located under the superficial tissues and aims to relax.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| PIR Group | Experimental | PIR Group participants will be given a one-time PIR Technique for each of the neck and upper back muscles, right after the classical Swedish massage is applied to the cervical region and upper back area. Receives: Other: post isometric relaxation; Other: Swedish Massage |
| Control Group | Experimental | Control group participants will receive classical Swedish massage only to the cervical and upper thoracic region. Receives: Other: Swedish Massage |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pain threshold assessment
Digital algometer (JTECH Commander ™ Algometer with 0.5 cm2 tip) device was used. After training by showing the measuring instrument to the participants, pressure will be applied to a place outside the assessment area to introduce the feeling of pressure. He will be told to give a "stop" command as soon as the pain is first felt. This process will be applied 3 times to ensure that the participants adapt to the pressure to be applied during the evaluation. Before and immediately after the applications, all participants felt the pain for the first time with a speed of 10 N/s over the sensitive points of the m.trapezius pars descendes, m.levator Scapula, m.Rrhomboideus Major, M.Sternocleidomasteideus, suboccipital region, M. Infraspinatus, M. Multifidius muscles. will be increased so far. The measurement was terminated with the "Stop" command and a total of 3 measurements will be made and the average value seen on the screen will be recorded.
Measured: 30 min
Pain severity assessment
After explaining that '0 is no pain, 10 is the most severe pain', all participants will be asked to mark the intensity of pain they feel on the 10 cm horizontal Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before and immediately after the application.
Measured: 30 min
Joint Range of Motion
In order to evaluate the range of motion of the cervical vertebrae, measurements will be made before and immediately after the applications using a universal goniometer and according to Kendall-Mc Creary criteria. The fixed arm, pivot point and movable arm of the goniometer will be placed in certain reference areas in the measurement that starts when the participant is in a sitting position. Measurements of cervical flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion, right and left rotation will be recorded after the participant's active movements, the angle value at the end of the movement, the active joint range of motion measurement.
Measured: 30 min
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Oct 2022
- Study start7 Oct 2022
- Primary completion7 Nov 2022
- Study completion10 Dec 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Neck PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Bulent Ecevit University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Sanem ŞENER, Bulent Ecevit University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05581667
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Immediate PIR
- Status last verified
- Dec 2023
- First submitted
- 12 Oct 2022
- Last updated
- 28 Dec 2023
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Cohen SP. Epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of neck pain. Mayo Clin Proc. 2015 Feb;90(2):284-99. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2014.09.008.
PubMed 25659245Page P. Cervicogenic headaches: an evidence-led approach to clinical management. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2011 Sep;6(3):254-66.
PubMed 22034615Sener S, Torak PS, Kocyigit A. The immediate effects of combined post-isometric relaxation and massage on neck pain in hospital employees: A randomised controlled trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2025 Sep;43:89-94. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2025.04.002. Epub 2025 Apr 19.
PubMed 40483167
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Dec 2023. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Immediate Effects of Post Isometric Relaxation Techniques In Hospital Employees With Neck Pain: A Randomised Control Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05581667
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Immediate PIR
- Conditions
- Neck Pain
- Keywords
- neck pain, Post isometric relaxation, hospital employees, pain threshold
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Bulent Ecevit UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 7 Oct 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 7 Nov 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 10 Dec 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 14 Oct 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the immediate effects of Post Isometric Relaxation (PIR) Technique on pain threshold, pain severity and joint range of motion of the cervical region in healthcare workers with neck pain.
Method: A total of 30 male and female participants aged 20-45 were randomly divided into two groups (Post Isometric Relaxation (PIR) Technique and Control Group). PIR group participants were under a single session of PIR application with 10 repetitions to m.supraspinatus, the upper part of the m.trapeze and m.levator scapula in addition to classical Swedish massage for neck and upper thoraric region. Control group participants received only classical Swedish massage to the cervical and upper thoracic region. Pain severity (Visual Analog Scale), Pain threshold (digital algometer), range of servical motion (goniometer) were measured at baseline and immediately after the single-session PIR Techniques.
Detailed description
Neck pain is the second most common musculoskeletal problem in the world after low back pain in terms of disability and health expenditures. Occupational groups with the highest incidence of neck pain include those working in a hospital environment, office workers, and manual workers.
Post Isometric Relaxation Technique (PIR) is a Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and is used by physiotherapists to relax muscles, reduce pain and increase range of motion. The PIR Technique provides its neurological effects through autogenic inhibition, which results in relaxation in the agonist muscle by inhibiting contraction with the stimuli sent by the group Ib fibers originating from the Golgi tendon organ of the agonist muscle to the medulla spinalis during static stretching.
The aim of our study is to investigate the instantaneous effect of PIR Technique on pain threshold, pain intensity and joint range of motion (neck flexion, extension, right and left rotation, right and left lateral flexion) in hospital workers with neck pain.
This experimental study, which was planned as randomized and single-blind, was planned to be carried out with a total of 30 volunteer participants, male and female, working in a private hospital in Istanbul between 7 October 2022 and 10 December 2022.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| PIR Group | Experimental | Other: post isometric relaxation, Other: Swedish MassagePIR Group participants will be given a one-time PIR Technique for each of the neck and upper back muscles, right after the classical Swedish massage is applied to the cervical region and upper back area. |
| Control Group | Experimental | Other: Swedish MassageControl group participants will receive classical Swedish massage only to the cervical and upper thoracic region. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- be a hospital worker
- complaining of neck pain for at least 3 months
- pain intensity at rest is 4 out of 10 according to VAS assessment
- volunteer to participate in the study
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Having neck pain after trauma to the neck in the last 6 months
- presence of neurological signs; neck pain that has spread to the arm and fingers
- have had spinal surgery
- shoulder pathology
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| post isometric relaxationPIR is performed by first passively lengthening the muscle, then having the patient lightly contract (10-20% of maximum) against resistance for 5 seconds passively before exhaling and relaxing the muscle and repeated. The clinician then takes up the slack within the muscle and repeats the technique 3 to 5 times | Other | PIR Group |
| Swedish Massageclassic Swedish massage for the cervical and upper thoracic region. Massage is a method that is applied to superficial soft tissues such as muscles, skin, ligaments and fascia and structures located under the superficial tissues and aims to relax. | Other | Control Group, PIR Group |
Primary outcome
Pain threshold assessment
Time frame: 30 min
Digital algometer (JTECH Commander ™ Algometer with 0.5 cm2 tip) device was used. After training by showing the measuring instrument to the participants, pressure will be applied to a place outside the assessment area to introduce the feeling of pressure. He will be told to give a "stop" command as soon as the pain is first felt. This process will be applied 3 times to ensure that the participants adapt to the pressure to be applied during the evaluation. Before and immediately after the applications, all participants felt the pain for the first time with a speed of 10 N/s over the sensitive points of the m.trapezius pars descendes, m.levator Scapula, m.Rrhomboideus Major, M.Sternocleidomasteideus, suboccipital region, M. Infraspinatus, M. Multifidius muscles. will be increased so far. The measurement was terminated with the "Stop" command and a total of 3 measurements will be made and the average value seen on the screen will be recorded.
Pain severity assessment
Time frame: 30 min
After explaining that '0 is no pain, 10 is the most severe pain', all participants will be asked to mark the intensity of pain they feel on the 10 cm horizontal Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before and immediately after the application.
Joint Range of Motion
Time frame: 30 min
In order to evaluate the range of motion of the cervical vertebrae, measurements will be made before and immediately after the applications using a universal goniometer and according to Kendall-Mc Creary criteria. The fixed arm, pivot point and movable arm of the goniometer will be placed in certain reference areas in the measurement that starts when the participant is in a sitting position. Measurements of cervical flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion, right and left rotation will be recorded after the participant's active movements, the angle value at the end of the movement, the active joint range of motion measurement.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Dec 2023.
- Background: PubMed 25659245Cohen SP. Epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of neck pain. Mayo Clin Proc. 2015 Feb;90(2):284-99. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2014.09.008.
- Background: PubMed 22034615Page P. Cervicogenic headaches: an evidence-led approach to clinical management. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2011 Sep;6(3):254-66.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 40483167Sener S, Torak PS, Kocyigit A. The immediate effects of combined post-isometric relaxation and massage on neck pain in hospital employees: A randomised controlled trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2025 Sep;43:89-94. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2025.04.002. Epub 2025 Apr 19.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing post isometric relaxation and Swedish Massage in people with Neck Pain, run by Bulent Ecevit University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Dec 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Pain threshold assessment (time frame: 30 min). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05581667, which also lists 3 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Dec 2023.