Efficacy of Mulligan on electromyography activation of cervical muscles in mechanical neck pain: randomised experimental trial

Abstract

Introduction The aim of this trial is to determine the efficacy of the Mulligan mobilisation technique on electromyography activa�tion of cervical muscles, pain, and function in chronic mechanical neck pain. Methods Ninety subjects of both sexes (44 females and 46 males) who were diagnosed with chronic mechanical neck pain by a physician and referred to the clinic of physiotherapy participated in this randomised controlled trial. The subjects were randomly allocated to two groups: group A, which is the experimental group, received the Mulligan technique combined with conventional therapy, and group B, which is the control group, received conventional therapy only. The two groups were given the treatment three times a week for four weeks. In this trial, muscle activity, pain and function were measured using electro�myography, the visual analogue scale and the Arabic neck disability index, respectively, and measured before and after the 12 sessions of the treatment. Results MANOVA was used to detect the effect of treatment and time on all measured variables, which revealed a statistically significant effect ( p < 0.05) in treatment and time in both groups. Conclusions Mulligan has a positive effect on muscle activity, pain and function in subjects with mechanical neck pain in excess of conventional therapy alone.

Keywords

• cervical muscles
• mechanical neck pain
• mulligan method
• electromyography