Neck PainNCT06931314
The Impact of Muscle Energy Technique and Aromatherapy
A study testing Aromatherapy massage and Muscle Energy Technique in people with Neck Pain, run by Ayça Aytar at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Individuals with nonspecific neck pain who work at a desk will be included in the study. Individuals will be examined in 3 groups: Muscle energy technique (MET), aromatherapy and control group. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 55 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Neck Pain
- What is being tested?
- Aromatherapy massage and Muscle Energy Technique
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 45 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 15 Mar 2024to 28 Sep 2024
- 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 18 to 55 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 35-55 years
- Female
- Office worker
- NP that has persisted for at least six months.
Who cannot join
- Individuals under the age of 18,
- Those with a history of neck-related surgery,
- Individuals with known serious pathologies (e.g., malignancy, inflammatory disorders, infection),
- Those with a history of trauma or fracture in the cervical spine,
- Individuals showing symptoms of cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy,
- Individuals known to have allergies to the oils to be used,
Show all 10Show fewer
- Damaged skin,
- Individuals with a history of allergy to lavender and almond,
- Those with a history of respiratory system diseases,
- Individuals for whom massage and manipulation are contraindicated.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: The Impact of Muscle Energy Technique and Aromatherapy on Pain, Disability and Sleep Quality in Office Workers With Nonspecific Neck Pain
Individuals with nonspecific neck pain who work at a desk will be included in the study. Individuals will be examined in 3 groups: Muscle energy technique (MET), aromatherapy and control group. All participants will be given home program-style exercises consisting of neck isometric, posture and stretching exercises by a physiotherapist. In addition to exercise, individuals in the MET and aromatherapy groups will be given exercises for 4 weeks, while the control group will be given only exercise. Evaluation questionnaires will be applied to participants at the end of the 0th and 4th weeks. At the end of the study, outcome measures between the groups and before and after data within the groups will be compared.
Read the detailed description
Nonspecific neck pain (NSBP) can occur without any history of injury or specific pathology related to the musculoskeletal system, or as a result of a postural or mechanical cause. Studies conducted on office workers have shown that working at a desk for long periods of time causes significant pain in the neck region, although not primarily. There are many therapeutic modalities in the treatment of neck pain. However, manual therapy approaches have been increasingly popular in many countries in recent years. Muscle energy technique (MET) is a treatment approach that uses soft tissue or joint manipulation or mobilization to improve the musculoskeletal system and reduce pain, including stretching maneuvers after active muscle contraction and relaxation. The technique, defined as a type of massage application, is used by utilizing physiological properties such as viscoelastic properties of myofascial tissues. MET is among the physiotherapy methods that affect joint range of motion, spinal pain, tissue fluid drainage and proprioception. In the literature, in the study comparing the effects of MET and Thai massage treatment on neck pain, it was stated that their effects on pain were similar, but their effectiveness with different massages and aromatherapy was not investigated. Aromatherapy is another complementary treatment method used in the treatment of musculoskeletal system diseases. It is stated that the components of the essential oils used during aromatherapy massage reach the circulatory system through the lymph and blood vessels in the epidermis and affect the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, endorphin, noradrenaline and serotonin, thus reducing pain.Individuals with nonspecific neck pain who work at a desk will be included in the study. Individuals will be examined in 3 groups: Muscle energy technique (MET), aromatherapy and control group. All participants will be given home program-style exercises consisting of neck isometric, posture and stretching exercises by a physiotherapist. In addition to exercise, individuals in the MET and aromatherapy groups will be given exercises for 4 weeks, while the control group will be given only exercise. Evaluation questionnaires will be applied to participants at the end of the 0th and 4th weeks. At the end of the study, outcome measures between the groups and before and after data within the groups will be compared.
- Conditions
- Neck Pain
- Being tested
- Aromatherapy massage, Muscle Energy Technique
- Keywords
- Lavender Oil, İsometric Contraction, aromatherapy
- Medical subject headings
- Neck Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Aromatherapy massageProcedure or surgery
Aromatherapy massage refers to a massage to be performed on the neck area with lavender oil.
Muscle Energy TechniqueProcedure or surgery
Muscle Energy Technique is a form of manual therapy that uses active muscle contraction and relaxation to improve musculoskeletal mechanics and relieve pain.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Muscle energy technique (MET) Group | Active comparator | The MET group will be given an average of 20 minutes of exercise, 2 days a week for 4 weeks. The muscle energy technique (post isometric relaxation technique) for the upper trapezius and levator scapula muscles will be applied for 3 to 5 repetitions, using 20% of the maximum isometric contraction for 7 to 10 seconds, holding the stretch beyond the resistance barrier for 30 to 60 seconds. Since these muscles are overactive due to muscle imbalances, they will be determined as target muscles. The total treatment period is 4 weeks and 8 sessions. Receives: Procedure: Muscle Energy Technique |
| Aromatherapy Group | Active comparator | The aromatherapy group will also receive an application 2 days a week for 4 weeks. A 20-minute lavender oil message will be applied to the neck area (with Euploraj and Petrisaj techniques). All aromatherapy interventions will be performed at 23°C. Essential oils will be purchased from a certified organic and tested company and will be used diluted. The application will be applied to the participants in the face-down position, with the arms in the inverted T position for 15 minutes. The application will be applied twice a week for 4 weeks. Receives: Procedure: Aromatherapy massage |
| Control Group | No intervention | The patients in the control group will be given exercises in the form of a home program consisting of neck isometric, posture and stretching exercises by the physiotherapist. The exercises will start with stretching exercises and continue with neck isometric exercises in a way that does not cause pain. The participants will be asked to do the exercises twice a day, every day of the week for 4 weeks, with 10 repetitions of each movement, and a brochure will be given about the exercises. Evaluation surveys will be applied at the end of the 0th and 4th weeks. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Neck Pain
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) will be used to measure the pain intensity of the participants. It is evaluated by asking the individual to indicate the current situation they feel by drawing a line or a dot on the chart, on a straight line of ten centimeters, the two ends of which are defined by the parameter to be measured in the individual, and the pain intensity in the individual is calculated in this way.
Measured: The individuals participating in the study will be evaluated twice: before the application (week 0) and after the application (after 4 weeks).
Secondary outcomes (2)
Neck Disability Index
"Neck Disability Index (NDI) was used to assess the severity of neck disability (ND) in individuals participating in the study (Vernon \& Mior, 1991; MacDermid et al., 2009). The index consists of 10 items including pain intensity, personal care, lifting, reading, headaches, concentration, work, driving, sleep, and recreation. Participants rated the impact of neck pain by marking one of six boxes.
Measured: The individuals participating in the study will be evaluated twice: before the application (week 0) and after the application (after 4 weeks).
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index consists of seven subcomponents measuring subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction 26
Measured: The individuals participating in the study will be evaluated twice: before the application (week 0) and after the application (after 4 weeks).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted17 Apr 2025
- Study start15 Mar 2024
- Primary completion20 Apr 2024
- Study completion28 Sep 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (5)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
- Model description
- The people who will be included in our study will be examined in 3 groups: Muscle energy technique (MET), aromatherapy and control group. People in the manual energy technique and aromatherapy group will be given an application for 4 weeks in addition to exercise, while the control group will be given only exercise.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ayça Aytar
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Ayça Aytar, Baskent University
- Investigators
- Ayça AYTAR, Assoc.Prof., Study director, Baskent UniversityMustafa GÜLŞEN, Assoc.Prof., Study chair, Baskent UniversitySelin ÖZEN, Assoc.Prof., Study chair, Baskent UniversityYasemin Kavuncubaşı Genç, Phd Cand, Study chair, Baskent UniversityAydan AYTAR, Professor, Study director, Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06931314
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- KA24/57
- Status last verified
- Apr 2025
- First submitted
- 9 Apr 2025
- Last updated
- 17 Apr 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Phadke A, Bedekar N, Shyam A, Sancheti P. Effect of muscle energy technique and static stretching on pain and functional disability in patients with mechanical neck pain: A randomized controlled trial. Hong Kong Physiother J. 2016 Apr 14;35:5-11. doi: 10.1016/j.hkpj.2015.12.002. eCollection 2016 Dec.
PubMed 30931028Hawker GA, Mian S, Kendzerska T, French M. Measures of adult pain: Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS Pain), Numeric Rating Scale for Pain (NRS Pain), McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), Chronic Pain Grade Scale (CPGS), Short Form-36 Bodily Pain Scale (SF-36 BPS), and Measure of Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain (ICOAP). Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2011 Nov;63 Suppl 11:S240-52. doi: 10.1002/acr.20543. No abstract available.
PubMed 22588748Buttagat V, Muenpan K, Wiriyasakunphan W, Pomsuwan S, Kluayhomthong S, Areeudomwong P. A comparative study of Thai massage and muscle energy technique for chronic neck pain: A single-blinded randomized clinical trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2021 Jul;27:647-653. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2021.05.007. Epub 2021 May 11.
PubMed 34391301Canpolat M, Ortabağ T. Ofis Çalışanlarında Mobil Egzersizin Boyun Ağrısı Üzerine Etkisi. Istanbul Kent University Journal Of Health Sciences.2023;2(3): 22-25.
Kanchanomai S, Janwantanakul P, Pensri P, Jiamjarasrangsi W. Risk factors for the onset and persistence of neck pain in undergraduate students: 1-year prospective cohort study. BMC Public Health. 2011 Jul 15;11:566. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-11-566.
PubMed 21756362
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 17 Apr 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Impact of Muscle Energy Technique and Aromatherapy on Pain, Disability and Sleep Quality in Office Workers With Nonspecific Neck Pain
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06931314
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- KA24/57
- Conditions
- Neck Pain
- Keywords
- Lavender Oil, İsometric Contraction, aromatherapy
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Ayça AytarUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Mar 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 20 Apr 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 28 Sep 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 17 Apr 2025 (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.
Individuals with nonspecific neck pain who work at a desk will be included in the study. Individuals will be examined in 3 groups: Muscle energy technique (MET), aromatherapy and control group. All participants will be given home program-style exercises consisting of neck isometric, posture and stretching exercises by a physiotherapist. In addition to exercise, individuals in the MET and aromatherapy groups will be given exercises for 4 weeks, while the control group will be given only exercise. Evaluation questionnaires will be applied to participants at the end of the 0th and 4th weeks. At the end of the study, outcome measures between the groups and before and after data within the groups will be compared.
Detailed description
Nonspecific neck pain (NSBP) can occur without any history of injury or specific pathology related to the musculoskeletal system, or as a result of a postural or mechanical cause. Studies conducted on office workers have shown that working at a desk for long periods of time causes significant pain in the neck region, although not primarily. There are many therapeutic modalities in the treatment of neck pain. However, manual therapy approaches have been increasingly popular in many countries in recent years. Muscle energy technique (MET) is a treatment approach that uses soft tissue or joint manipulation or mobilization to improve the musculoskeletal system and reduce pain, including stretching maneuvers after active muscle contraction and relaxation. The technique, defined as a type of massage application, is used by utilizing physiological properties such as viscoelastic properties of myofascial tissues. MET is among the physiotherapy methods that affect joint range of motion, spinal pain, tissue fluid drainage and proprioception. In the literature, in the study comparing the effects of MET and Thai massage treatment on neck pain, it was stated that their effects on pain were similar, but their effectiveness with different massages and aromatherapy was not investigated. Aromatherapy is another complementary treatment method used in the treatment of musculoskeletal system diseases. It is stated that the components of the essential oils used during aromatherapy massage reach the circulatory system through the lymph and blood vessels in the epidermis and affect the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, endorphin, noradrenaline and serotonin, thus reducing pain.Individuals with nonspecific neck pain who work at a desk will be included in the study. Individuals will be examined in 3 groups: Muscle energy technique (MET), aromatherapy and control group. All participants will be given home program-style exercises consisting of neck isometric, posture and stretching exercises by a physiotherapist. In addition to exercise, individuals in the MET and aromatherapy groups will be given exercises for 4 weeks, while the control group will be given only exercise. Evaluation questionnaires will be applied to participants at the end of the 0th and 4th weeks. At the end of the study, outcome measures between the groups and before and after data within the groups will be compared.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- The people who will be included in our study will be examined in 3 groups: Muscle energy technique (MET), aromatherapy and control group. People in the manual energy technique and aromatherapy group will be given an application for 4 weeks in addition to exercise, while the control group will be given only exercise.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Muscle energy technique (MET) Group | Active comparator | Procedure: Muscle Energy TechniqueThe MET group will be given an average of 20 minutes of exercise, 2 days a week for 4 weeks. The muscle energy technique (post isometric relaxation technique) for the upper trapezius and levator scapula muscles will be applied for 3 to 5 repetitions, using 20% of the maximum isometric contraction for 7 to 10 seconds, holding the stretch beyond the resistance barrier for 30 to 60 seconds. Since these muscles are overactive due to muscle imbalances, they will be determined as target muscles. The total treatment period is 4 weeks and 8 sessions. |
| Aromatherapy Group | Active comparator | Procedure: Aromatherapy massageThe aromatherapy group will also receive an application 2 days a week for 4 weeks. A 20-minute lavender oil message will be applied to the neck area (with Euploraj and Petrisaj techniques). All aromatherapy interventions will be performed at 23°C. Essential oils will be purchased from a certified organic and tested company and will be used diluted. The application will be applied to the participants in the face-down position, with the arms in the inverted T position for 15 minutes. The application will be applied twice a week for 4 weeks. |
| Control Group | No intervention | –The patients in the control group will be given exercises in the form of a home program consisting of neck isometric, posture and stretching exercises by the physiotherapist. The exercises will start with stretching exercises and continue with neck isometric exercises in a way that does not cause pain. The participants will be asked to do the exercises twice a day, every day of the week for 4 weeks, with 10 repetitions of each movement, and a brochure will be given about the exercises. Evaluation surveys will be applied at the end of the 0th and 4th weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 55 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age between 35-55 years
- Female
- Office worker
- NP that has persisted for at least six months.
Key exclusion criteria (10 listed)
- Individuals under the age of 18,
- Those with a history of neck-related surgery,
- Individuals with known serious pathologies (e.g., malignancy, inflammatory disorders, infection),
- Those with a history of trauma or fracture in the cervical spine,
- Individuals showing symptoms of cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy,
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aromatherapy massageAromatherapy massage refers to a massage to be performed on the neck area with lavender oil. | Procedure or surgery | Aromatherapy Group |
| Muscle Energy TechniqueMuscle Energy Technique is a form of manual therapy that uses active muscle contraction and relaxation to improve musculoskeletal mechanics and relieve pain. | Procedure or surgery | Muscle energy technique (MET) Group |
Primary outcome
Neck Pain
Time frame: The individuals participating in the study will be evaluated twice: before the application (week 0) and after the application (after 4 weeks).
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) will be used to measure the pain intensity of the participants. It is evaluated by asking the individual to indicate the current situation they feel by drawing a line or a dot on the chart, on a straight line of ten centimeters, the two ends of which are defined by the parameter to be measured in the individual, and the pain intensity in the individual is calculated in this way.
2 secondary outcomes
Neck Disability Index
Time frame: The individuals participating in the study will be evaluated twice: before the application (week 0) and after the application (after 4 weeks).
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Time frame: The individuals participating in the study will be evaluated twice: before the application (week 0) and after the application (after 4 weeks).
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 17 Apr 2025.
- Background: PubMed 30931028Phadke A, Bedekar N, Shyam A, Sancheti P. Effect of muscle energy technique and static stretching on pain and functional disability in patients with mechanical neck pain: A randomized controlled trial. Hong Kong Physiother J. 2016 Apr 14;35:5-11. doi: 10.1016/j.hkpj.2015.12.002. eCollection 2016 Dec.
- Background: PubMed 22588748Hawker GA, Mian S, Kendzerska T, French M. Measures of adult pain: Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS Pain), Numeric Rating Scale for Pain (NRS Pain), McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), Chronic Pain Grade Scale (CPGS), Short Form-36 Bodily Pain Scale (SF-36 BPS), and Measure of Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain (ICOAP). Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2011 Nov;63 Suppl 11:S240-52. doi: 10.1002/acr.20543. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 34391301Buttagat V, Muenpan K, Wiriyasakunphan W, Pomsuwan S, Kluayhomthong S, Areeudomwong P. A comparative study of Thai massage and muscle energy technique for chronic neck pain: A single-blinded randomized clinical trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2021 Jul;27:647-653. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2021.05.007. Epub 2021 May 11.
- BackgroundCanpolat M, Ortabağ T. Ofis Çalışanlarında Mobil Egzersizin Boyun Ağrısı Üzerine Etkisi. Istanbul Kent University Journal Of Health Sciences.2023;2(3): 22-25.
- Background: PubMed 21756362Kanchanomai S, Janwantanakul P, Pensri P, Jiamjarasrangsi W. Risk factors for the onset and persistence of neck pain in undergraduate students: 1-year prospective cohort study. BMC Public Health. 2011 Jul 15;11:566. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-11-566.
- 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.
Ayça AYTAR, Assoc.Prof. study director
Baskent University
Mustafa GÜLŞEN, Assoc.Prof. study chair
Baskent University
Selin ÖZEN, Assoc.Prof. study chair
Baskent University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Aromatherapy massage and Muscle Energy Technique in people with Neck Pain, run by Ayça Aytar 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 10 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 17 Apr 2025. 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?
Neck Pain (time frame: The individuals participating in the study will be evaluated twice: before the application (week 0) and after the application (after 4 weeks).). 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 NCT06931314, which also lists 5 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 17 Apr 2025.