Short Term Effects of Muscle Energy Technique with Resistance Band Exercises and Myofascial Release Technique with Conventional Exercises on Pain, ROM and Functional Disability in Postpartum Women with Trapezitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Takale Rutuja , Chougule Akshay , Prabhakar Ronald 
Published: May 2022

Background: In Postpartum women, the forward head posture due to breastfeeding leads to lengthening of the trapezius muscle for prolonged period which causes its weakness and low level activity of trapezius muscle so the most common cause of neck pain in postpartum women is inflamed trapezius muscle which in turn reduces cervical ROM and causes tightness of trapezius muscles.
Aim: To compare the short term effects of MET with elastic resistance bands and MFR with conventional exercises
Material And Methodology: Postpartum women with trapezitis having pain while performing neck flexion, neck side rotation, neck side flexion and activities affected such as lifting, reading, driving, sleeping, working, while concentrating and doing recreational activities were included in this study. A comparative study was done wherein Group A (n=15) received muscle energy technique with elastic resistance band exercises and Group B(n=15) received myofascial release technique with conventional exercises which included static neck exercises, neck stretching exercises. Treatment was given for 6 times a week for a week. Pain, range of motion and functional disability were assessed using VAS, Goniometry and neck disability index.
Results: Group A (Muscle energy technique with resistance band exercises) showed significant decrease in pain and neck disability and significant increase in neck range of motion as compared to Group B (Myofascial release technique with conventional exercises.) Mean post VAS on rest in MET group (0.44) was significantly lower than mean post VAS on rest in MFR group (1.31) (p=0.001)Mean post VAS on activity in MET group (1.37) was significantly lower than mean post VAS on activity in MFR group (2.32) (p=0.002)
Mean post CROM flexion in MET group (61.93) was significantly higher mean post CROM flexion in MFR group (47.20) (p<0.001)Mean post right side flexion in MET group (41.87) was significantly higher mean post right side flexion in MFR group (33.67) (p<0.001)
Mean post left side flexion in MET group (42.87) was significantly higher mean post left side flexion in MFR group (33.40) (p<0.001)Mean post right side rotation in MET group (67.67) was significantly higher mean post right side rotation in MFR group (57.60) (p<0.001)
Mean post left side rotation in MET group (68.93) was significantly higher mean post left side rotation in MFR group (57.80) (p<0.001)Mean post NDI in MET group (2.87) was significantly lower mean post NDI in MFR group (6.33) (p<0.001)This shows that short term effects of MET and resistance band exercises were effective on pain and functional ability in postpartum subjects with trapezitis than effect of MFR and conventional exercises on pain and functional ability in postpartum subjects with trapezitis.
Conclusion: The study concluded that both the groups showed positive results on pain, cervical range of motion and functional mobility. (According to the coefficient variables as it is less in Group B compared to group A). Hence, Muscle energy technique with elastic resistance band exercises is more effective than the myofascial release technique with conventional exercises in postpartum women with trapezitis for reducing pain and functional disability and increasing the neck range of motion.

Key words: MET with elastic resistance bands, MFR with conventional exercises, Postpartum Women with Trapezitis.