Effectiveness of LASER Therapy and PNF Technique in Neck Pain

NCT07566637 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: E-56365223-050.02.04-2023.1375
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 75
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aimed to investigate and compare the effects of low-intensity laser therapy, a photobiomodulation treatment, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on pain and disability in individuals with non-specific neck pain. This randomized controlled trial used the Numerical Pain Scale (primary outcome) and the Bournemouth Neck Pain Questionnaire to assess pain, a manual algometer to assess pain threshold, and the Neck Disability Index to assess disability. Three groups were included in this randomized controlled trial: Group 1: Photobiomodulation therapy (low-intensity laser therapy) + conventional physiotherapy; Group 2: Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation with stretching and strengthening + conventional physiotherapy; Group 3: Conventional physiotherapy only. We hypothesized that low-intensity laser therapy and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation would have distinct effects on pain and disability in chronic non-specific neck pain.

Conditions

Non Specific Neck Pain

Keywords

Low-Level Light Therapy; Photobiomodulation; Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation; Neck Pain; Laser Therapy; Low-Level Laser Therapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Numerical Pain Scale

  It was used to assess neck pain. Pain is assessed using a rating scale of 1-10. Higher scores indicate more severe pain.

  at baseline and week 5

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Pressure-Pain Threshold Measurement

  at baseline and week 5

• The Neck Bournemouth Questionnaire

  at baseline and week 5

• The Neck Disability Index

  at baseline and week 5

Study Arms (3)

Low-intensity Laser Therapy Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Low-intensity Laser Therapy + Conventional Physiotherapy

Device: Low-intensity Laser Therapy Treatment; Other: Conventional physiotherapy

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Technique + + Conventional Physiotherapy

Other: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Technique; Other: Conventional physiotherapy

Control Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Conventional physiotherapy

Other: Conventional physiotherapy

Interventions

Conventional physiotherapy OTHER

Conventional physiotherapy involved traditional heat therapy, pain-relieving electrical stimulation and neck exercises.

Control Group; Low-intensity Laser Therapy Group; Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Group

Low-intensity Laser Therapy Treatment DEVICE

Low-dose laser therapy was administered twice a week for a total of 10 sessions using a Chattanoga Advance device, at a power of 100 mW and an energy dose of 4 J/cm², with each trigger point receiving treatment plus four additional points marked with a cross (Legouté et al. 2019).

Also known as: Low-dose laser therapy, Photobiomodulation therapy, Low-level laser therapy

Low-intensity Laser Therapy Group

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Technique OTHER

Stretching and strengthening exercises were performed twice a week for a total of 10 sessions on the scalene, sternocleidomastoid, trapezius, pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, intercostal and serratus anterior muscles, and three times a week for 10 minutes (including the neck extensors). The specific method involved the 'hold-release' technique for 10 repetitions of PNF stretching and the maximum isometric contraction technique for strengthening (Liu et al. 2021; Cruz-Montecinos et al. 2017).

Also known as: PNF

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Volunteering to participate in the study
• A Neck Disability Index score of 5 or higher
• No comorbid conditions affecting the orthopaedic, neurological or cardiopulmonary systems
• Participants who have not been enrolled in another clinical trial within the last month

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals who have undergone upper limb surgery (e.g. shoulder blade, shoulder, elbow, hand, wrist, etc.) within the last year
• Individuals with a pacemaker or subcutaneous implant
• Pregnant women or women who have recently given birth
• Use of antidepressants, anti-inflammatory drugs or anxiolytics within the last 6 months

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul Gedik University: lead
• Medipol University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Istanbul Gedik University

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Liu K, Yu X, Cui X, Su Y, Sun L, Yang J, Han W. Effects of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretching Combined with Aerobic Training on Pulmonary Function in COPD Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2021 Apr 13;16:969-977. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S300569. eCollection 2021.

  PMID: 33880021 RESULT

• Cruz-Montecinos C, Godoy-Olave D, Contreras-Briceno FA, Gutierrez P, Torres-Castro R, Miret-Venegas L, Engel RM. The immediate effect of soft tissue manual therapy intervention on lung function in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2017 Feb 21;12:691-696. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S127742. eCollection 2017.

  PMID: 28260875 RESULT

• Legoute F, Bensadoun RJ, Seegers V, Pointreau Y, Caron D, Lang P, Prevost A, Martin L, Schick U, Morvant B, Capitain O, Calais G, Jadaud E. Low-level laser therapy in treatment of chemoradiotherapy-induced mucositis in head and neck cancer: results of a randomised, triple blind, multicentre phase III trial. Radiat Oncol. 2019 May 22;14(1):83. doi: 10.1186/s13014-019-1292-2.

  PMID: 31118057 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neck Pain

Interventions

Laser Therapy; Low-Level Light Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Therapeutics; Ablation Techniques; Surgical Procedures, Operative; Phototherapy

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: April 20, 2026
• First Posted: May 5, 2026
• Study Start: February 5, 2024
• Primary Completion: March 28, 2026
• Study Completion: March 28, 2026
• Last Updated: May 5, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

TU (1)