Comparison of Stretching Alone Versus Combination of Muscle Energy Technique and Stretching on Pain and Disability among Patients with Trigger Points in Cervical Region

Abstract

Objective: To compare effect of stretching combined with muscle energy technique on disability and pain in patients with trigger points in cervical region. Study Design: Comparative clinical trial. Place and Duration of Study: Intervention and assessment was done in Physical Therapy department of Shalamar Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan from 13 September 2018 to 29 March 2019. Materials and Methods: It was a single blinded parallel arm study. Seventy-two patients recruited in the study by using probability simple random sampling. Patients with non-specific neck pain, trigger points in trapezius muscle, aged between 18 to 45 years were included in the study. Patients with history of road traffic accident, torticollis or complaint of spinal cord compression were excluded. Patients were divided in two equal groups by random number table. Group A received combination of stretching and muscle energy technique while group B received only stretching. Intervention repeated for 3 to 5 days, number of sessions was 3 days a week for 4 weeks. Assessment was taken baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention. Data was entered and analysed through SPSS version 21. Results: The demographics of result showed that 54.2% male and 45.8% female participated in the study with 52.8% sedentary and 47.2% were active subjects. The results of the study showed statistically significant improvement on neck disability and pain (P value<0.05). Conclusion: It is concluded that muscle energy technique with stretching is more effective for patients with trigger points in cervical region.