Muscle Energy Technique With And Without Myofascial Release in Patients With Cervicogenic Headache

NCT07574112 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: MS-UOL-2024-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial compared the effects of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) with and without Myofascial Release (MFR) in patients with cervicogenic headache. Forty participants aged 20-40 years were randomly assigned into two groups: MET only and MET combined with MFR. The intervention was delivered over five sessions across two weeks. Outcomes included pain intensity (VAS), cervical range of motion, and disability (Neck Disability Index), assessed at baseline and post-intervention. The study evaluated which intervention produced greater improvements in pain, function, and cervical mobility.

Conditions

Cervicogenic Headache

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pain Intensity (VAS)

  Visual Analogue Scale (0-10) for pain intensity assessment

  Baseline and 2 weeks post-intervention

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Cervical Range of Motion

  Baseline and 2 weeks post-intervention

• Neck Disability Index (NDI)

  Baseline and 2 weeks post-intervention

Study Arms (2)

Muscle Energy Technique (MET)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this group received Muscle Energy Technique (MET) alone. The intervention was applied over five treatment sessions within two weeks. This group served as the comparison group to evaluate the effects of MET without Myofascial Release.

Procedure: Muscle Energy Technique (MET)

Muscle Energy Technique (MET) + Myofascial Release (MFR)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group received a combination of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and Myofascial Release (MFR). The intervention was delivered over five treatment sessions within two weeks to evaluate its combined effect on pain, cervical range of motion, and disability.

Procedure: Muscle Energy Technique (MET); Procedure: Myofascial Release (MFR)

Interventions

Muscle Energy Technique (MET) PROCEDURE

Muscle Energy Technique (MET) was applied to the cervical region muscles using isometric contractions followed by passive stretching. The technique was performed in a controlled manner to improve muscle flexibility, reduce pain, and enhance cervical mobility over five treatment sessions within two weeks.

Also known as: Muscle Energy Technique

Muscle Energy Technique (MET); Muscle Energy Technique (MET) + Myofascial Release (MFR)

Myofascial Release (MFR) PROCEDURE

Sustained manual pressure applied to cervical and upper trapezius muscles to release fascial restrictions.

Muscle Energy Technique (MET) + Myofascial Release (MFR)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• years old adults with cervicogenic headache (CGH) based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD) Trapezius muscle tightness and tenderness (on palpation) The visual analog score (VAS) of pain should be 2 or more CGH symptoms are accompanied by the measurable restriction of cervical range of motion (ROM)

You may not qualify if:

• Prior headache history of migraine or non-cervicogenic Past cervical surgery in less than 6 months or significant cervical injury Nervous system problems like radiculopathy, myelopathy or other central nervous system pathology

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Lahore: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Lahore

Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Samreen Z, Waseem I, Mustansar A. Muscle Energy Technique With and Without Myofascial Release in Patients with Cervicogenic Headache. Insights in Journal of Health Research. 2025. https://doi.org/10.71000/vy8k2r11

  RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Post-Traumatic Headache

Interventions

Myofascial Release Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Headache Disorders, Secondary; Headache Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Massage; Therapy, Soft Tissue; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation

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: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: This study used a parallel-group randomized controlled design. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups: one receiving Muscle Energy Technique (MET) alone and the other receiving a combination of Muscle Energy Technique and Myofascial Release (MFR). Both interventions were delivered over a fixed treatment period, and outcomes were compared between groups after completion of the intervention.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 1, 2026
• First Posted: May 7, 2026
• Study Start: February 25, 2025
• Primary Completion: November 25, 2025
• Study Completion: December 15, 2025
• Last Updated: May 7, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)