Effects of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization on Sensory Motor Mismatch in Text Neck Syndrome.

NCT07716137 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: RCRAHS-ISB/REC/MS-PT/02433
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 66
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Text Neck Syndrome is increasingly common in young adults due to prolonged smartphone use and is linked to postural changes and impaired sensorimotor control. Although its effects on visual-vestibular integration, balance, and proprioception are still unknown, Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) may improve neuromuscular function by enhancing afferent input and mechanoreceptor stimulation. This study investigates whether IASTM can improve sensorimotor processing in individuals with Text Neck Syndrome.

Conditions

Text Neck Syndrome

Keywords

IASTM, SENSORY MOTOR MISMATCH

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Fukuda stepping test - vestibular deviation

  • Evaluates vestibulospinal reflex integrity by observing angular deviation during stepping in place with eyes closed. It indicates asymmetry in vestibular or sensory motor control. The FST is based on vestibulospinal reflex and widely used for evaluation of labyrinthine function. The significant displacement or rotation (more than 45°) is considered abnormal and suggest a vestibular imbalance.

  4 weeks

• Dynamic visual acuity test

  ● Assesses visual vestibular interaction by measuring visual acuity during active head movement. It detects gaze instability caused by impaired vestibulo- ocular reflex (VOR) and sensory-motor mismatch. A difference of two or more lines on eye-chart than seen in static visual acuity is considered abnormal.

  4 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Cervical Joint Position Error (JPE) Test

  4 weeks

• Berg Balance Scale (BBS)

  4 weeks

• Universal Goniometer

  4 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Experimental: IASTM + Conventional Physiotherapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) in addition to conventional physiotherapy. IASTM will be applied to the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, sternocleidomastoid, suboccipital muscles, and cervical extensors using stainless steel instruments. Conventional therapy will include cervical isometric exercises, deep cervical flexor activation, scapular strengthening exercises, stretching exercises, thoracic extension exercises, and postural re-education. Treatment will be administered twice weekly for 4 weeks (8 sessions total).

Other: IASTM + Conventional Physiotherapy

Conventional Physiotherapy (Exercise-based) (control group)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will receive conventional physiotherapy consisting of cervical isometric strengthening exercises, deep cervical flexor activation exercises, scapular strengthening exercises, stretching exercises, thoracic extension exercises, and postural re-education. Treatment will be administered twice weekly for 4 weeks (8 sessions total).

Other: Conventional Physiotherapy (Exercise-based) (control group)

Interventions

Conventional Physiotherapy (Exercise-based) (control group) OTHER

Participants will receive conventional physiotherapy consisting of cervical isometric strengthening exercises, deep cervical flexor activation exercises, scapular strengthening exercises, stretching exercises, thoracic extension exercises, and postural re-education. Treatment will be administered twice weekly for 4 weeks (8 sessions total).

Conventional Physiotherapy (Exercise-based) (control group)

IASTM + Conventional Physiotherapy OTHER

Participants will receive Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) in addition to conventional physiotherapy. IASTM will be applied to the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, sternocleidomastoid, suboccipital muscles, and cervical extensors using stainless steel instruments. Conventional therapy will include cervical isometric exercises, deep cervical flexor activation, scapular strengthening exercises, stretching exercises, thoracic extension exercises, and postural re-education. Treatment will be administered twice weekly for 4 weeks (8 sessions total).

Experimental: IASTM + Conventional Physiotherapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Adults aged 18-30
• Using the phone or computer for 3 h or more per day.
• The presence of 3 out of the following 6 symptoms:
• Neck pain (recurrent history of neck pain in the previous 4 months, a pain level greater than or equal to 4/10 on the NPRS (moderate pain))
• Upper back pain,
• Shoulder pain,
• Headache (tension type headache due to tension in sub-occipitals)
• Insomnia
• Tingling and numbness in the upper limbs
• Cranio-vertebral angle (CVA) \<48-50° on digital photogrammetry
• Individuals having sensory-motor mismatch (positive Fukuda test:\>45° degrees, abnormal dynamic visual acuity, positive cervical JPE\>4.5°)
• Voluntary participation

You may not qualify if:

• History of cervical spine surgery, trauma, or fracture
• Any diagnosed neurological disorders (cervical radiculopathy, peripheral neuropathy, fibromyalgia, etc.)
• Any diagnosed MSK related issue (torticollis, scoliosis, diagnosed disc prolapse, stenosis, herniation, spondylolisthesis, osteoporosis, etc.)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Railway General Hospital

Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, Pakistan

Location

Related Publications (5)

• 1. Kumar N. Latest Smartphone Usage Statistics (2025 Data & Trends). Demandsage [Internet]. 2025.

  BACKGROUND

• Tsantili AR, Chrysikos D, Troupis T. Text Neck Syndrome: Disentangling a New Epidemic. Acta Med Acad. 2022 Aug;51(2):123-127. doi: 10.5644/ama2006-124.380.

  PMID: 36318004 BACKGROUND

• Piruta J, Kulak W. Physiotherapy in Text Neck Syndrome: A Scoping Review of Current Evidence and Future Directions. J Clin Med. 2025 Feb 19;14(4):1386. doi: 10.3390/jcm14041386.

  PMID: 40004916 BACKGROUND

• Kaya M, Ucgun H, Denizoglu Kulli H. The effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on individuals with text neck syndrome: A randomized controlled study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2024 Jul 26;103(30):e38716. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038716.

  PMID: 39058818 BACKGROUND

• Mylonas K, Angelopoulos P, Billis E, Tsepis E, Fousekis K. Combining targeted instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization applications and neuromuscular exercises can correct forward head posture and improve the functionality of patients with mechanical neck pain: a randomized control study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021 Feb 21;22(1):212. doi: 10.1186/s12891-021-04080-4.

  PMID: 33612123 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Control Groups

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Epidemiologic Research Design; Epidemiologic Methods; Investigative Techniques; Research Design; Methods

Study Officials

• Ramsha Tariq, MS OMPT

  Riphah International University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Ramsha Tariq, MS OMPT

CONTACT

03315251422; ramsha.tariq@riphah.edu.pk

Study Design

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

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 16, 2026
• First Posted: July 21, 2026
• Study Start: July 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 25, 2026
• Last Updated: July 21, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)