Neck Pain MusculoskeletalERGOMETNCT07672028
ERGON Therapy and Muscle Energy Technique for Mechanical Neck Pain
A study testing Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (ERGON Technique) Muscle Energy Technique Conventional Physiotherapy and Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (ERGON Technique) Conventional Physiotherapy in people with Neck Pain Musculoskeletal, run by University of Management and Technology Sialkot Pakistan at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
This randomized clinical trial will compare the effectiveness of ERGON Therapy combined with Muscle Energy Technique (MET) versus ERGON Therapy alone in patients with mechanical neck pain. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 45 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Neck Pain Musculoskeletal
- What is being tested?
- Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (ERGON Technique) Muscle Energy Technique Conventional Physiotherapy and Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (ERGON Technique) Conventional Physiotherapy
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 42 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 1 Dec 2025to 30 Jul 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 18 to 45 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Individuals clinically diagnosed with mechanical neck pain Duration of neck pain of at least 2 weeks Willingness to participate and provide written informed consent
Who cannot join
- History of cervical spine surgery within the past 12 months History of trauma or infection in the cervical region Presence of neurological deficits or cervical radiculopathy Presence of systemic disorders affecting musculoskeletal function Any other musculoskeletal deformity or significant disability affecting the neck region
- -
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Comparison of ERGON Therapy With and Without Muscle Energy Technique in Patients With Mechanical Neck Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial
This randomized clinical trial will compare the effectiveness of ERGON Therapy combined with Muscle Energy Technique (MET) versus ERGON Therapy alone in patients with mechanical neck pain. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups. Both groups will receive conventional physiotherapy consisting of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), hot pack application, and cervical stretching exercises. The study will evaluate changes in pain intensity, cervical range of motion, and functional disability. The findings are expected to provide evidence regarding the added benefit of MET when combined with ERGON Therapy in the management of mechanical neck pain.
Read the detailed description
Mechanical neck pain is a common musculoskeletal condition that can adversely affect daily activities, work productivity, and quality of life. Various manual therapy approaches have been used to manage neck pain, including Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) techniques such as ERGON Therapy and Muscle Energy Technique (MET). However, limited evidence exists regarding the comparative effectiveness of ERGON Therapy with and without MET in individuals with mechanical neck pain.
This randomized clinical trial will recruit 42 participants diagnosed with mechanical neck pain. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated into two groups. Group A will receive ERGON Therapy in combination with Muscle Energy Technique, while Group B will receive ERGON Therapy alone. In addition, both groups will receive a standardized conventional physiotherapy program consisting of TENS, hot pack application, and cervical stretching exercises.
The intervention period will be conducted according to a predefined treatment protocol. Outcome measures will include pain intensity assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), cervical range of motion measured using appropriate clinical tools, and functional disability assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Assessments will be performed at baseline and after completion of the intervention period.
The primary objective of the study will be to determine whether the addition of Muscle Energy Technique to ERGON Therapy provides superior improvements in pain reduction, cervical mobility, and functional disability compared with ERGON Therapy alone. The results of this trial are expected to contribute to evidence-based rehabilitation strategies for the management of mechanical neck pain.
- Conditions
- Neck Pain Musculoskeletal
- Being tested
- Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (ERGON Technique) Muscle Energy Technique Conventional Physiotherapy, Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (ERGON Technique) Conventional Physiotherapy
- Keywords
- Mechanical Neck Pain, Muscle Energy Technique, Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, ERGON Therapy, Manual Therapy
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (ERGON Technique) Muscle Energy Technique Conventional PhysiotherapyOther
Also called TENS, Hot Pack, Cervical Stretching
Participants in the experimental group will receive Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization using ERGON technique combined with Muscle Energy Technique. ERGON therapy will be applied to cervical soft tissues to improve tissue mobility and reduce pain. Muscle Energy Technique will be used to facilitate joint mobility and reduce muscular tightness. In addition, participants will receive conventional physiotherapy including Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), hot pack application, and cervical stretching exercises.
Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (ERGON Technique) Conventional PhysiotherapyOther
Also called TENS, Hot Pack, Cervical Stretching
Participants in the comparator group will receive Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization using ERGON technique alone. ERGON therapy will be applied to cervical soft tissues to improve tissue mobility and reduce pain. In addition, participants will receive the same conventional physiotherapy protocol including Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), hot pack application, and cervical stretching exercises.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Group | Experimental | ERGON Therapy combined with Muscle Energy Technique plus conventional physiotherapy including TENS, hot pack application, and cervical stretching exercises. Receives: Other: Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (ERGON Technique) Muscle Energy Technique Conventional Physiotherapy |
| Comparator Group | Active comparator | ERGON Therapy alone plus conventional physiotherapy including TENS, hot pack application, and cervical stretching exercises. Receives: Other: Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (ERGON Technique) Conventional Physiotherapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pain Intensity (NPRS)
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (0-10), where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates worst possible pain.
Measured: Baseline and after completion of 6 treatment sessions (2 weeks)
Cervical Range of Motion (CROM)
Cervical range of motion refers to the measurement of movement of the cervical spine in different planes, including flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation. It reflects neck mobility and functional joint movement and will be assessed using standard clinical methods at baseline and post-intervention.
Measured: Baseline and after completion of 6 treatment sessions over 2 weeks
Secondary outcomes (1)
Functional Disability (Neck Disability Index - NDI)
Functional disability related to mechanical neck pain will be assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). The questionnaire measures the impact of neck pain on activities of daily living, including personal care, lifting, reading, work, and concentration. Higher scores indicate greater disability.
Measured: Baseline and after completion of 6 treatment sessions over 2 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Jun 2026
- Study start1 Dec 2025
- Primary completion15 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Jul 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Neck Pain MusculoskeletalStudies 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
- Participants will be randomly assigned to two parallel groups. One group will receive ERGON Therapy combined with Muscle Energy Technique, while the other group will receive ERGON Therapy alone. Both groups will also receive conventional physiotherapy including TENS, hot pack application, and cervical stretching exercises.
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider
- Enrolment
- 42 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Management and Technology Sialkot Pakistan
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- DANYAL AHMAD, Study chair, University of Management and Technology Sialkot Pakistan
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07672028
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- kuhs/dpt/umt-skt-028
- Acronym
- ERGOMET
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 26 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: De-identified individual participant data including baseline characteristics (age, gender), pain scores (Numeric Pain Rating Scale), cervical range of motion measurements, and Neck Disability Index scores will be shared. No personal identifiers such as names, contact details, or hospital record numbers will be included.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparison of ERGON Therapy With and Without Muscle Energy Technique in Patients With Mechanical Neck Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07672028
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ERGOMET / kuhs/dpt/umt-skt-028
- Conditions
- Neck Pain Musculoskeletal
- Keywords
- Mechanical Neck Pain, Muscle Energy Technique, Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, ERGON Therapy, Manual Therapy
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 42 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Management and Technology Sialkot PakistanUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 26 Jun 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.
This randomized clinical trial will compare the effectiveness of ERGON Therapy combined with Muscle Energy Technique (MET) versus ERGON Therapy alone in patients with mechanical neck pain. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups. Both groups will receive conventional physiotherapy consisting of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), hot pack application, and cervical stretching exercises. The study will evaluate changes in pain intensity, cervical range of motion, and functional disability. The findings are expected to provide evidence regarding the added benefit of MET when combined with ERGON Therapy in the management of mechanical neck pain.
Detailed description
Mechanical neck pain is a common musculoskeletal condition that can adversely affect daily activities, work productivity, and quality of life. Various manual therapy approaches have been used to manage neck pain, including Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) techniques such as ERGON Therapy and Muscle Energy Technique (MET). However, limited evidence exists regarding the comparative effectiveness of ERGON Therapy with and without MET in individuals with mechanical neck pain.
This randomized clinical trial will recruit 42 participants diagnosed with mechanical neck pain. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated into two groups. Group A will receive ERGON Therapy in combination with Muscle Energy Technique, while Group B will receive ERGON Therapy alone. In addition, both groups will receive a standardized conventional physiotherapy program consisting of TENS, hot pack application, and cervical stretching exercises.
The intervention period will be conducted according to a predefined treatment protocol. Outcome measures will include pain intensity assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), cervical range of motion measured using appropriate clinical tools, and functional disability assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Assessments will be performed at baseline and after completion of the intervention period.
The primary objective of the study will be to determine whether the addition of Muscle Energy Technique to ERGON Therapy provides superior improvements in pain reduction, cervical mobility, and functional disability compared with ERGON Therapy alone. The results of this trial are expected to contribute to evidence-based rehabilitation strategies for the management of mechanical neck pain.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, care provider)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned to two parallel groups. One group will receive ERGON Therapy combined with Muscle Energy Technique, while the other group will receive ERGON Therapy alone. Both groups will also receive conventional physiotherapy including TENS, hot pack application, and cervical stretching exercises.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Group | Experimental | Other: Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (ERGON Technique) Muscle Energy Technique Conventional PhysiotherapyERGON Therapy combined with Muscle Energy Technique plus conventional physiotherapy including TENS, hot pack application, and cervical stretching exercises. |
| Comparator Group | Active comparator | Other: Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (ERGON Technique) Conventional PhysiotherapyERGON Therapy alone plus conventional physiotherapy including TENS, hot pack application, and cervical stretching exercises. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Individuals clinically diagnosed with mechanical neck pain Duration of neck pain of at least 2 weeks Willingness to participate and provide written informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- History of cervical spine surgery within the past 12 months History of trauma or infection in the cervical region Presence of neurological deficits or cervical radiculopathy Presence of systemic disorders affecting musculoskeletal function Any other musculoskeletal deformity or significant disability affecting the neck region
- -
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (ERGON Technique) Muscle Energy Technique Conventional PhysiotherapyAlso: TENS, Hot Pack, Cervical StretchingParticipants in the experimental group will receive Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization using ERGON technique combined with Muscle Energy Technique. ERGON therapy will be applied to cervical soft tissues to improve tissue mobility and reduce pain. Muscle Energy Technique will be used to facilitate joint mobility and reduce muscular tightness. In addition, participants will receive conventional physiotherapy including Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), hot pack application, and cervical stretching exercises. | Other | Experimental Group |
| Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (ERGON Technique) Conventional PhysiotherapyAlso: TENS, Hot Pack, Cervical StretchingParticipants in the comparator group will receive Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization using ERGON technique alone. ERGON therapy will be applied to cervical soft tissues to improve tissue mobility and reduce pain. In addition, participants will receive the same conventional physiotherapy protocol including Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), hot pack application, and cervical stretching exercises. | Other | Comparator Group |
Primary outcome
Pain Intensity (NPRS)
Time frame: Baseline and after completion of 6 treatment sessions (2 weeks)
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (0-10), where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates worst possible pain.
Cervical Range of Motion (CROM)
Time frame: Baseline and after completion of 6 treatment sessions over 2 weeks
Cervical range of motion refers to the measurement of movement of the cervical spine in different planes, including flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation. It reflects neck mobility and functional joint movement and will be assessed using standard clinical methods at baseline and post-intervention.
1 secondary outcome
Functional Disability (Neck Disability Index - NDI)
Time frame: Baseline and after completion of 6 treatment sessions over 2 weeks
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 26 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. De-identified individual participant data including baseline characteristics (age, gender), pain scores (Numeric Pain Rating Scale), cervical range of motion measurements, and Neck Disability Index scores will be shared. No personal identifiers such as names, contact details, or hospital record numbers will be included.
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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.
DANYAL AHMAD study chair
University of Management and Technology Sialkot Pakistan
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (ERGON Technique) Muscle Energy Technique Conventional Physiotherapy and Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (ERGON Technique) Conventional Physiotherapy in people with Neck Pain Musculoskeletal, run by University of Management and Technology Sialkot Pakistan 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 1 inclusion and 2 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: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Jun 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?
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 Intensity (NPRS) (time frame: Baseline and after completion of 6 treatment sessions (2 weeks)). The study lists 2 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 26 Jun 2026.