Clinical trial NCT05581667: The Immediate Effects of Post Isometric Relaxation Techniques
Official title: The Immediate Effects of Post Isometric Relaxation Techniques In Hospital Employees With Neck Pain: A Randomised Control Trial
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Neck Pain
Keywords: neck pain
Post isometric relaxation
hospital employees
pain threshold
Lead sponsor: Bulent Ecevit University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2022-10-14
Enrollment: 30
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 20
Maximum age (years): 45
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the immediate effects of Post Isometric Relaxation (PIR) Technique on pain threshold, pain severity and joint range of motion of the cervical region in healthcare workers with neck pain.

Method: A total of 30 male and female participants aged 20-45 were randomly divided into two groups (Post Isometric Relaxation (PIR) Technique and Control Group). PIR group participants were under a single session of PIR application with 10 repetitions to m.supraspinatus, the upper part of the m.trapeze and m.levator scapula in addition to classical Swedish massage for neck and upper thoraric region. Control group participants received only classical Swedish massage to the cervical and upper thoracic region. Pain severity (Visual Analog Scale), Pain threshold (digital algometer), range of servical motion (goniometer) were measured at baseline and immediately after the single-session PIR Techniques.

Detailed description: Neck pain is the second most common musculoskeletal problem in the world after low back pain in terms of disability and health expenditures. Occupational groups with the highest incidence of neck pain include those working in a hospital environment, office workers, and manual workers.

Post Isometric Relaxation Technique (PIR) is a Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and is used by physiotherapists to relax muscles, reduce pain and increase range of motion. The PIR Technique provides its neurological effects through autogenic inhibition, which results in relaxation in the agonist muscle by inhibiting contraction with the stimuli sent by the group Ib fibers originating from the Golgi tendon organ of the agonist muscle to the medulla spinalis during static stretching.

The aim of our study is to investigate the instantaneous effect of PIR Technique on pain threshold, pain intensity and joint range of motion (neck flexion, extension, right and left rotation, right and left lateral flexion) in hospital workers with neck pain.

This experimental study, which was planned as randomized and single-blind, was planned to be carried out with a total of 30 volunteer participants, male and female, working in a private hospital in Istanbul between 7 October 2022 and 10 December 2022.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* be a hospital worker
* complaining of neck pain for at least 3 months
* pain intensity at rest is 4 out of 10 according to VAS assessment
* volunteer to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

* Having neck pain after trauma to the neck in the last 6 months
* presence of neurological signs; neck pain that has spread to the arm and fingers
* have had spinal surgery
* shoulder pathology

Primary outcomes:
measure: Pain threshold assessment
timeFrame: 30 min
measure: Pain severity assessment
timeFrame: 30 min
measure: Joint Range of Motion
timeFrame: 30 min
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Zonguldak
country: Turkey
facility: Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University
state: Kozlu
Study officials:
References:
citation: Cohen SP. Epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of neck pain. Mayo Clin Proc. 2015 Feb;90(2):284-99. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2014.09.008.
citation: Page P. Cervicogenic headaches: an evidence-led approach to clinical management. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2011 Sep;6(3):254-66.