Effectiveness of Mulligan Mobilization on Chronic Neck Pain and Range of Motion

NCT07764471 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: AAUJ-PT-2026-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 76
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of adding Mulligan Mobilization with Movement (MWM) to conventional physiotherapy in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain. Seventy-six participants aged 18-65 years were randomly assigned to receive either conventional physiotherapy alone or conventional physiotherapy combined with MWM for four weeks. Pain intensity, cervical range of motion, and functional disability were assessed before and after the intervention. The study aimed to compare changes in pain intensity, cervical range of motion, and functional disability between the two treatment groups.

Conditions

Chronic Neck Pain

Keywords

Chronic neck pain; Mulligan concept; Mobilization with Movement; Cervical range of motion; Randomized controlled trial

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change from baseline in pain intensity measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

  Pain intensity will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 0-10 cm scale, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity and therefore worse outcomes. Pain intensity will be assessed at baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention. The change in pain score from baseline to post-intervention will be reported.

  Before treatment (baseline) and 4 weeks (end of treatment)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Change from baseline in cervical range of motion (ROM) measured by goniometer (degrees)

  Before treatment (baseline) and 4 weeks (end of treatment)

• Change from baseline in neck-related disability measured by the Neck Disability Index (NDI)

  Before treatment (baseline) and 4 weeks (end of treatment)

Study Arms (2)

Control group (A) (n = 32) received a conventional physical therapy program

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Other: Conventional Physical Therapy Program

The experimental group (B) (n=38) received conventional program, with addition to Mulligan technique

EXPERIMENTAL

Other: Conventional Physical Therapy Program; Other: Mulligan technique

Interventions

Conventional Physical Therapy Program OTHER

Included of Cervical mobility and strengthening exercises, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Soft tissue massage

Control group (A) (n = 32) received a conventional physical therapy program; The experimental group (B) (n=38) received conventional program, with addition to Mulligan technique

Mulligan technique OTHER

The Mulligan Concept is a manual therapy approach developed by New Zealand physiotherapist Brian Mulligan in the 1980s. It includes techniques such as Mobilization with Movement (MWM) and the Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glide (SNAG), which have attracted significant attention for their effectiveness in treating neck pain.

Also known as: Mulligan Concept

The experimental group (B) (n=38) received conventional program, with addition to Mulligan technique

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Age 18-65 years
• Chronic mechanical neck pain lasting ≥ 3 months
• NDI score ≥ 10
• Ability to attend 3 sessions per week

You may not qualify if:

• Previous cervical spine surgery
• Cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy
• Vertebral artery insufficiency
• Rheumatologic or neurological disorders
• Ongoing physiotherapy elsewhere

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Prof. Mosab Saleem Hamed Amoudi: lead

Study Sites (1)

PhysioFlex - Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Center-Nablus

Nablus, Nablus, +970, Palestinian Territories

Location

Study Officials

• Mosab S Amoudi

  Arab American University (Palestine)

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 6, 2026
• First Posted: August 14, 2026
• Study Start: February 15, 2026
• Primary Completion: May 18, 2026
• Study Completion: May 25, 2026
• Last Updated: August 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)