Neck PainNCT07329478
Effects of Muscle Specific as Compared to Movement Specific Muscle Energy Technique on Isometric Muscle Strength and Muscular Endurance in Individuals With Mechanical Neck Pain
A study testing Movement specific muscle energy technique and Muscle specific muscle energy technique in people with Neck Pain, run by Foundation University Islamabad at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
Neck pain, prevalent in young adults due to poor posture, sedentary habits, and muscle imbalance. This study aims to compare the effects of muscle-specific versus movement-specific MET on pain, isometric muscle strength, and endurance of neck flexors and extensors. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 19 to 44 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Neck Pain
- What is being tested?
- Movement specific muscle energy technique and Muscle specific muscle energy technique
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 15 Jan 2025to 15 Jan 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 19 to 44 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 19-44 years.
- Both Genders (Male and Female).
- Limitation on cervical motion
- Pain ranging from 40-80 mm on visual analogue scale (VAS)
Who cannot join
- Participants with a positive history of fracture, surgery or trauma in the neck region, thoracic outlet syndrome, infection, any malignancy.
- Vascular syndromes such as vertebrobasilar insufficiency.
- Inflammatory, or rheumatic disorders, cervical radiculopathy, myelopathy, spondylosis, or syringomyelia.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Pakistan1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Foundation University Islamabad
Islamabad, Punjab Province, 46000
Zaib ul Hassan, DPT, +92336-5667805, zaibulhassan13@gmail.com
About this study
Neck pain, prevalent in young adults due to poor posture, sedentary habits, and muscle imbalance. This study aims to compare the effects of muscle-specific versus movement-specific MET on pain, isometric muscle strength, and endurance of neck flexors and extensors. Pre- and post-intervention assessments using VAS, Modified Sphygmomanometer Dynamometer, and cranio-cervical flexion/extension tests will evaluate treatment outcomes.
Read the detailed description
Neck pain, affecting nearly 75.7% of young adults, is commonly linked to poor posture, sedentary lifestyles, and muscle imbalances. If left untreated, it may lead to disability and degenerative changes. Among rehabilitation approaches, muscle energy techniques (METs) have shown effectiveness in improving pain, mobility, and function by targeting neuromuscular dysfunction. This study aims to compare the effects of muscle- specific MET with movement-specific MET on pain, isometric muscle strength, and muscular endurance of neck flexors and extensors in individuals with neck pain. A randomized control trial will be conducted using purposive sampling. Thirty participants will be divided into two groups: Group A (movement-specific MET) and Group B (muscle-specific MET), with both groups following a standard protocol of Tens and Hotpack applied for 10 mins proceeding every session for five sessions.
- Conditions
- Neck Pain
- Being tested
- Movement specific muscle energy technique, Muscle specific muscle energy technique
- Keywords
- muscle strength, Movement Specific Muscle Energy Technique, Muscle Specific Muscle Energy Technique
- Medical subject headings
- Neck Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Movement specific muscle energy techniqueProcedure or surgery
In the movement-specific group, participants received Post-Isometric Relaxation MET targeting cervical spine movements (flexion, extension, rotation, lateral flexion). For example, during right rotation:
Active Contraction: The participant rotated left (opposite direction) with 30-50% effort against the therapist's resistance for 7-10 seconds.
Relaxation: The participant relaxed completely. Stretching: The therapist gently moved the head towards the restricted range (right rotation) and held the stretch for 10-60 seconds.
This technique enhances mobility and reduces muscular tension by combining contraction, relaxation, and stretching.
Muscle specific muscle energy techniqueProcedure or surgery
In the muscle specific MET group, the participants were given post-isometric relaxation MET targeted at muscles of the neck region that are prone to get short, including anterior, middle and posterior Scalene, Sternocleidomastoid, Levator Scapulae and upper fibers of Trapezius muscle.
Active Contraction: The participant rotated left (opposite direction) with 30-50% effort against the therapist's resistance for 7-10 seconds. Relaxation: The participant relaxed completely. Stretching: The therapist gently moved the head towards the restricted range (right rotation) and held the stretch for 10-60 seconds. This technique enhances mobility and reduces muscular tension by combining. Tens and Hot pack therapy for both groups preceding every session for 10 mins.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| A:Muscle specific muscle energy technique | Experimental | Group A receives Muscle specific muscle energy technique. Tens and Hotpack 10 mins preceding every session. Receives: Procedure: Muscle specific muscle energy technique |
| B: Movement specific muscle energy technique | Experimental | Group B receives Movement specific muscle energy technique. Tens and Hotpack preceding every session for 10 mins. Receives: Procedure: Movement specific muscle energy technique |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pain Intensity
Visual Analog Scale will be used for measuring pain intensity, 0 is no pain and 10 is worst pain.
Measured: 5 days
Isometric muscle strength
Modified Sphygmomanometer Dynamometer will be used to measure isometric muscle strength. In which Higher pressure is stronger muscles; lower values suggest weakness or dysfunction.
Measured: 5 days
Muscle endurance
Cranio-cervical flexion Test/ Cranio-cervical extension Test will be used for measuring muscle endurance. Strong contraction means normal; weakness suggests flexors/extensors' dysfunction.
Measured: 5 days
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Jan 2026
- Study start15 Jan 2025
- Primary completion30 Dec 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion15 Jan 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Neck PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Foundation University IslamabadThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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 (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Foundation University Islamabad
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07329478
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- FUI/CTR/2025/25
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 29 Dec 2025
- Last updated
- 9 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 9 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Muscle Specific as Compared to Movement Specific Muscle Energy Technique on Isometric Muscle Strength and Muscular Endurance in Individuals With Mechanical Neck Pain
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07329478
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- FUI/CTR/2025/25
- Conditions
- Neck Pain
- Keywords
- muscle strength, Movement Specific Muscle Energy Technique, Muscle Specific Muscle Energy Technique
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Foundation University IslamabadUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Dec 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 15 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 9 Jan 2026 (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.
Neck pain, prevalent in young adults due to poor posture, sedentary habits, and muscle imbalance. This study aims to compare the effects of muscle-specific versus movement-specific MET on pain, isometric muscle strength, and endurance of neck flexors and extensors. Pre- and post-intervention assessments using VAS, Modified Sphygmomanometer Dynamometer, and cranio-cervical flexion/extension tests will evaluate treatment outcomes.
Detailed description
Neck pain, affecting nearly 75.7% of young adults, is commonly linked to poor posture, sedentary lifestyles, and muscle imbalances. If left untreated, it may lead to disability and degenerative changes. Among rehabilitation approaches, muscle energy techniques (METs) have shown effectiveness in improving pain, mobility, and function by targeting neuromuscular dysfunction. This study aims to compare the effects of muscle- specific MET with movement-specific MET on pain, isometric muscle strength, and muscular endurance of neck flexors and extensors in individuals with neck pain. A randomized control trial will be conducted using purposive sampling. Thirty participants will be divided into two groups: Group A (movement-specific MET) and Group B (muscle-specific MET), with both groups following a standard protocol of Tens and Hotpack applied for 10 mins proceeding every session for five sessions.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| A:Muscle specific muscle energy technique | Experimental | Procedure: Muscle specific muscle energy techniqueGroup A receives Muscle specific muscle energy technique. Tens and Hotpack 10 mins preceding every session. |
| B: Movement specific muscle energy technique | Experimental | Procedure: Movement specific muscle energy techniqueGroup B receives Movement specific muscle energy technique. Tens and Hotpack preceding every session for 10 mins. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 19 to 44 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age 19-44 years.
- Both Genders (Male and Female).
- Limitation on cervical motion
- Pain ranging from 40-80 mm on visual analogue scale (VAS)
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Participants with a positive history of fracture, surgery or trauma in the neck region, thoracic outlet syndrome, infection, any malignancy.
- Vascular syndromes such as vertebrobasilar insufficiency.
- Inflammatory, or rheumatic disorders, cervical radiculopathy, myelopathy, spondylosis, or syringomyelia.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Movement specific muscle energy techniqueIn the movement-specific group, participants received Post-Isometric Relaxation MET targeting cervical spine movements (flexion, extension, rotation, lateral flexion). For example, during right rotation: Active Contraction: The participant rotated left (opposite direction) with 30-50% effort against the therapist's resistance for 7-10 seconds. Relaxation: The participant relaxed completely. Stretching: The therapist gently moved the head towards the restricted range (right rotation) and held the stretch for 10-60 seconds. This technique enhances mobility and reduces muscular tension by combining contraction, relaxation, and stretching. | Procedure or surgery | B: Movement specific muscle energy technique |
| Muscle specific muscle energy techniqueIn the muscle specific MET group, the participants were given post-isometric relaxation MET targeted at muscles of the neck region that are prone to get short, including anterior, middle and posterior Scalene, Sternocleidomastoid, Levator Scapulae and upper fibers of Trapezius muscle. Active Contraction: The participant rotated left (opposite direction) with 30-50% effort against the therapist's resistance for 7-10 seconds. Relaxation: The participant relaxed completely. Stretching: The therapist gently moved the head towards the restricted range (right rotation) and held the stretch for 10-60 seconds. This technique enhances mobility and reduces muscular tension by combining. Tens and Hot pack therapy for both groups preceding every session for 10 mins. | Procedure or surgery | A:Muscle specific muscle energy technique |
Primary outcome
Pain Intensity
Time frame: 5 days
Visual Analog Scale will be used for measuring pain intensity, 0 is no pain and 10 is worst pain.
Isometric muscle strength
Time frame: 5 days
Modified Sphygmomanometer Dynamometer will be used to measure isometric muscle strength. In which Higher pressure is stronger muscles; lower values suggest weakness or dysfunction.
Muscle endurance
Time frame: 5 days
Cranio-cervical flexion Test/ Cranio-cervical extension Test will be used for measuring muscle endurance. Strong contraction means normal; weakness suggests flexors/extensors' dysfunction.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 9 Jan 2026.
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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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Movement specific muscle energy technique and Muscle specific muscle energy technique in people with Neck Pain, run by Foundation University Islamabad at 1 site in Pakistan.
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 3 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 9 Jan 2026. 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 Pakistan. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Zaib ul Hassan, DPT (+92336-5667805, zaibulhassan13@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Pain Intensity (time frame: 5 days). 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?
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 9 Jan 2026.