NCT05475405

Scapulo-Thoracic Mobilization Compared to IASTM in Patients With Mechanical Neck Pain

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 32 (actual)
• Sponsor: Riphah International University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 40 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

SCAPULO-THORACIC MOBILIZATION COMPARED TO IASTM IN PATIENTS WITH MECHANICAL NECK PAIN

Detailed description

Mechanical neck pain is common musculoskeletal condition that causes work disabilities and is not self-limiting. One of the main causes for mechanical neck pain is forward head posture, which is common and but not ideal posture adopted by many workers and students who presents with head being anterior to the shoulder. Imbalances in the normal muscle function reported in such patients with inhibited deep neck flexors, serratus anterior and rhomboids and tightened pectoralis, upper trapezius and levator scapula. Neck and scapula have some common muscle attachments and abnormal loads on cervical or thoracic spine change the biomechanics of muscles present in these regions, which eventually cause trigger points Management of scapulo-thoracic joint focuses on correcting posture, restoring flexibility of the scapula including the pectoralis minor, levator scapulae, rhomboids, mobilization and soft tissue techniques. IASTM is ergonomically designed stainless steel tool, and has recently gained much popularity for elevating pain, reducing trigger points and improving ROMs because it has deeply penetrating power as compared to mobilization through hand. This technique works by both along the mobilizing muscle fibers or parallel to the muscle fibers.

Conditions

• Mechanical Neck Pain

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	scapulothoracic mobilization	Patient in prone lying position. The left hand of the physical therapist lifts the scapula to distract from the thoracic wall while the right hand mobilizes and stretches the inferior muscle groups attached to the scapula.
OTHER	IASTM	Restrictions and myofascial adhesions should be assessed prior to treatment along both sides using IASTM tool and a lubricant. Once restrictions are assessed, fanning strokes at 45 degree angles to skin should be applied using the tool. This technique should be performed for 20 seconds parallel to the muscle fibers and 20 seconds perpendicular to the muscle fibers for each muscle group in scapulothoracic region. Total time for IASTM application is 10 mints. Upon completing all this patient should be given a home plan consisting of 2 different self-stretches targeting levator scapulae and upper trapezius

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-08-01
• Primary completion: 2022-07-30
• Completion: 2022-07-31
• First posted: 2022-07-26
• Last updated: 2022-09-07

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Pakistan