Effectiveness of Bowen Technique vs Muscle Energy Technique in Neck Pain.

NCT06459518 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: REC/RCR&AHS/23/01106
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Mechanical neck pain, also known as non-specific neck pain, is a prevalent ailment that results from problems with spine and surrounding tissue function. Trauma, degenerative changes, strained muscles, and bad posture are among the causes. The range of symptoms includes headaches, stiffness, and mild to severe pain. The goal of treatment is to strengthen the muscles and improve posture. The diagnosis is clinical. The Bowen Technique is a type of gentle bodywork therapy that promotes relaxation and overall rebalancing by using specific movements to activate the autonomic nerve system. It is sought for the improvement of general well-being, pain alleviation, and stress reduction. Patients undergoing manual treatment will be asked to actively contract their muscles against regulated resistance using the Muscle Energy Technique (MET). It addresses problems including joint limitations and attempts to return muscles and joints to their normal functions.

Conditions

Neck Pain; Musculoskeletal Manipulation

Keywords

Bowen Therapy; Mechanical Neck Pain; Muscle Energy Technique

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Pain level

  The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is a straightforward tool used to measure pain intensity in adults, including those suffering from chronic pain associated with rheumatic conditions. It features an 11-point scale, where '0' indicates no pain and '10' signifies the most extreme pain possible, described as "pain as bad as you can imagine" or "the worst pain imaginable."

  4th week

• Functional Disability

  A self-reported questionnaire called the Neck Disability Index (NDI) is used to gauge how neck pain affects a person's ability to function and go about their everyday life. It is divided into eleven sections that address different tasks such as sleeping, work, reading, lifting, and personal care. In each category, respondents rate the level of difficulty they encounter; scores are added together to produce a percentage that indicates the degree of disability. When conducting clinical assessments, the NDI is a useful instrument that helps medical practitioners determine the degree of functional limits and provide personalized interventions for patients with neck discomfort.

  4th week

Study Arms (2)

Bowen Therapy along with Conventional Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Group A will receive Bowen Therapy along with Conventional Therapy

Other: Bowen Therapy along with conventional therapy

Muscle Energy Technique along with conventional Therapy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Group B will receive Muscle Energy Technique along with Conventional Therapy

Other: Muscle Energy Technique with Conventional Therapy

Interventions

Bowen Therapy along with conventional therapy OTHER

Bowen Technique Group Assignment: Participants will be assigned to undergo targeted Bowen Technique therapy sessions. Session Details: The therapy sessions will include: * Gentle, rolling-type maneuvers * Specific placements of fingers and thumbs * Focus on muscles, tendons, and ligaments associated with neck pain Therapeutic Pauses: There will be intentional pauses between sets of moves to allow the body time to respond to the therapeutic stimulation. Conventional Therapy: Hot pack, TENS, Passive Stretching 2 times a week for 4 weeks

Bowen Therapy along with Conventional Therapy

Muscle Energy Technique with Conventional Therapy OTHER

MET Session Structure: Participants will engage in Muscle Energy Technique (MET) sessions that focus on: * Isometric muscle contractions, where muscles are contracted without changing length. * Therapist-guided, controlled contractions against specific resistance. * Relaxation Periods: Each contraction session will be followed by a period of relaxation to allow muscles to recover and respond to the therapy. conventional therapy: Hot pack, TENS, Passive Stretching 2times a week for 4 weeks.

Muscle Energy Technique along with conventional Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 15 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Computer users who work 5-7 hours daily.
• Age between 18 to 35 will be included.
• Both genders

You may not qualify if:

• Any recent musculoskeletal injury of upper limb or spine.
• History of any trauma of spine or head

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Maryam Polyclinic Sahiwal

Sahiwal, Punjab Province, 57000, Pakistan

Location

Related Publications (6)

• Masaracchio M, Kirker K, States R, Hanney WJ, Liu X, Kolber M. Thoracic spine manipulation for the management of mechanical neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2019 Feb 13;14(2):e0211877. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211877. eCollection 2019.

  PMID: 30759118 BACKGROUND

• Verhagen AP. Physiotherapy management of neck pain. J Physiother. 2021 Jan;67(1):5-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jphys.2020.12.005. Epub 2020 Dec 24. No abstract available.

  PMID: 33358545 BACKGROUND

• Joshi S, Balthillaya G, Neelapala YVR. Thoracic Posture and Mobility in Mechanical Neck Pain Population: A Review of the Literature. Asian Spine J. 2019 Jun 3;13(5):849-860. doi: 10.31616/asj.2018.0302. Print 2019 Oct.

  PMID: 31154701 BACKGROUND

• Al-Khazali HM, Kroll LS, Ashina H, Melo-Carrillo A, Burstein R, Amin FM, Ashina S. Neck pain and headache: Pathophysiology, treatments and future directions. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2023 Aug;66:102804. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2023.102804. Epub 2023 Jun 16.

  PMID: 37394323 BACKGROUND

• Peng B, Yang L, Li Y, Liu T, Liu Y. Cervical Proprioception Impairment in Neck Pain-Pathophysiology, Clinical Evaluation, and Management: A Narrative Review. Pain Ther. 2021 Jun;10(1):143-164. doi: 10.1007/s40122-020-00230-z. Epub 2021 Jan 12.

  PMID: 33464539 BACKGROUND

• Bonilla-Barba L, Florencio LL, Rodriguez-Jimenez J, Falla D, Fernandez-de-Las-Penas C, Ortega-Santiago R. Women with mechanical neck pain exhibit increased activation of their superficial neck extensors when performing the cranio-cervical flexion test. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2020 Oct;49:102222. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2020.102222. Epub 2020 Jul 11.

  PMID: 32861371 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neck Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Hafiza Wajeeha Saeed, DPT

  Riphah International University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 11, 2024
• First Posted: June 14, 2024
• Study Start: December 15, 2024
• Primary Completion: May 15, 2025
• Study Completion: June 1, 2025
• Last Updated: July 4, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)