NCT07403279

Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glides With and Without Integrated Neuromuscular Inhibition Technique in Neck Pain

Effects of Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glides With and Without Integrated Neuromuscular Inhibition Technique on Pain, Range of Motion, and Function in Patients With Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 44 (actual)
• Sponsor: Riphah International University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 45 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The study was conducted to determine the effects of Sustained Natural Apophysial Glide with and without Integrated Neuromuscular Inhibition Technique on pain, range of motion and function in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain

Conditions

• Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glides	SNAGs were applied in three sets, with repetitions progressively increased from 6 to 10 over a period of four weeks, administered three times per week.
OTHER	Integrated Neuromuscular Inhibition Technique	The integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique comprised three steps: ischemic compression, strain-counterstrain technique, and muscle energy technique. The technique was applied to the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, sternocleidomastoid, and splenius capitis muscles. Muscle selection was based on palpatory examination performed prior to each treatment session. Each treatment session lasted 10 minutes, during which all three steps were repeated three times within a single session. The intervention was delivered three times per week for four weeks, resulting in a total of 12 treatment sessions.
OTHER	Standardized Physiotherapy Treatment	Standardized physiotherapy included the application of an electrical hot pack at moderate intensity for 10 minutes. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) delivered in continuous mode at a frequency of 100 Hz for 15 minutes. Passive stretching was performed for cervical muscles prone to tightness, including the levator scapulae, sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, and scalene muscles, with a 30-second hold, three sets of ten repetitions, and a one-minute rest between sets. Scapular stabilization exercises, comprising shoulder shrugging and scapular retraction, were performed for 15 repetitions with a 6-second hold. Neck isometric exercises were repeated ten times with a 6-second hold. Cervical stabilization exercises were performed in two sets of ten repetitions per session, with each repetition held for ten seconds, a forty-second rest between repetitions, and a two-minute rest between sets.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-08-18
• Primary completion: 2025-11-18
• Completion: 2025-11-18
• First posted: 2026-02-11
• Last updated: 2026-02-11

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Pakistan