Comparative Effectiveness of Routine Physical Therapy with and without Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization for Improving Pain and Disability in Patients with Neck Pain Due to Upper Crossed Syndrome

Tahir Mahmood; Muhammad Waqar Afzal; Iqra Waseem; Muhammad Asim Arif; Wajeeha Mahmood

doi:10.29054/apmc/2022.1333

Tahir Mahmood Senior Lecturer / Physical Therapist Imran Idrees Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences, Sialkot Medical College Sialkot Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0175-5248
Muhammad Waqar Afzal Assistant Professor, University Institute of Physical Therapy, The University of Lahore, Lahore Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5496-5949
Iqra Waseem Assistant Professor, University Institute of Physical Therapy, The University of Lahore, Lahore Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1487-7749
Muhammad Asim Arif Assistant Professor, University Institute of Physical Therapy, The University of Lahore, Lahore Pakistan http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9707-4182
Wajeeha Mahmood Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, The Superior University Lahore Pakistan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.29054/apmc/2022.1333

Keywords: Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization, Neck pain, Neck disability index, Stretching exercise, Upper crossed syndrome, Numeric pain rating scale

Abstract

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders of the neck arise due to poor posture, which imposes overpressure on the muscles of the head, neck, and shoulder. Intervention strategies are needed to facilitate the muscles for improving functional index. Objective: To compare effectiveness of IASTM with routine physical therapy for improving pain and disability in patients of neck pain due to upper crossed syndrome. Study Design: Single-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial. Settings: The Agile Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Complex Bahawalpur and National Orthopedic Hospital Bahawalpur Pakistan. Duration: 6 months, from 28 August 2019 to 29 February 2020. Methods: Sixty subjects were randomized using the coin toss method. Thirty subjects in each group. Group A received routine physical Therapy (RPT) and Group B received Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) + RPT, with 3 sessions/week for 4 weeks. The study’s outcomes were the Numeric Pain Rating Scale and Neck Disability Index. Measurements were taken at baseline, at the end of 2^nd and 4^th week. The Data was analyzed by using SPSS Version 22. Repeated Measurement ANOVA was used for within-group and Independent T-test for between group analyses. Results: The mean age in both groups was 31 year. The mean Pain rating at baseline in Group A was 5.56 ± 0.85 and after 4^th week was 2.06 ± 0.94. And in Group B was 5.72 ± 0.65 and after 04 weeks was 1.57 ± 0.56. The NDI means at baseline in Group A was 18.70 ± 2.98 and at 4th week was 15.20 ± 2.59 but in Group B was 19.16 ± 2.30 and after 4 weeks was 10.50 ± 1.85. The Significance difference observed for NPRS at P-value = 0.001 and NDI at P = 0.00 between groups comparison after 08 weeks of intervention. Conclusion: Both techniques were effective in the management of Neck pain and Neck functional Index but group B (IASTM) had superior effects as compared to Group A (Routine physical therapy). There was Significance difference observed for Numeric Pain Rating and Neck Disability Index between groups. IRCT registration number: IRCT20190912044754N1