Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders
in the general population. Point prevalence ranges
from 6% to 22% and up to 38% of the elderly population, while
lifetime prevalence ranges from 14.2% to 71% [1]. The International
Association for the Study of Pain defines neck
pain as: “Pain perceived as arising from anywhere within the
region bounded superiorly by superior nuchal line, inferior
by an unoriginally transverse line through the tip of first
thoracic spinous process, and laterally by sagittal plane
tangential to the lateral border of neck” [2].
Mechanical neck pain is a generalized neck and/or
shoulder pain with mechanical characteristics, including
symptoms provoked by maintained neck postures, neck
movement, or by palpation of the cervical muscles [3].The
source of symptoms in mechanical neck pain is not
completely understood, but has been purported to be
related to various anatomical structures, particularly zygapophyseal
or uncovertebral joints of the cervical spine [4].
A frequently seen cause of the neck pain is awkward
occupational postures, anxiety, stress, heavy lifting, and
physically demanding work [5].
Janda [6] described upper crossed syndrome as facilitation
of the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, sternocleidomastoid,
and pectoralis muscles, as well as inhibition of the
deep cervical flexors, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior.
These muscle imbalances and movement dysfunctions may
have a direct effect on joint surfaces, thus potentially
leading to joint degeneration. In some cases, joint degeneration
may be a direct source of pain, but the actual cause
of pain has been often secondary to muscle imbalance [7].
A wide variety of treatment protocols for mechanical
neck pain are available. However, the most effective
management remains an area of debate.
Both muscle energy technique (MET) and stretching are
widely used techniques in the field of physiotherapy. MET is
an advanced stretching techniques [7]. Studies using these
two techniques individually in symptomatic as well as in
asymptomatic population have shown improvement [8e12],
but very few studies have compared these techniques in a
symptomatic population, where conflicting results are seen
[13e20]. A study done by Mahajan et al [17] compared
these two treatment technique in patients with mechanical
neck pain. There is lack of evidence to allow conclusions to
be drawn about the effectiveness of MET when compared
with stretching exercises for relieving mechanical neck
pain. Therefore this study will add to the growing body of
knowledge that if these two techniques yield comparable
outcomes and if one technique is superior to the other,
which should be the alternative choice of therapy. Therefore,
the study was done to compare effect of MET when
compared with passive stretching in reducing pain and
functional disability in patients with mechanical neck pain.
Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disordersin the general population. Point prevalence rangesfrom 6% to 22% and up to 38% of the elderly population, whilelifetime prevalence ranges from 14.2% to 71% [1]. The InternationalAssociation for the Study of Pain defines neckpain as: “Pain perceived as arising from anywhere within theregion bounded superiorly by superior nuchal line, inferiorby an unoriginally transverse line through the tip of firstthoracic spinous process, and laterally by sagittal planetangential to the lateral border of neck” [2].Mechanical neck pain is a generalized neck and/orshoulder pain with mechanical characteristics, includingsymptoms provoked by maintained neck postures, neckmovement, or by palpation of the cervical muscles [3].Thesource of symptoms in mechanical neck pain is notcompletely understood, but has been purported to berelated to various anatomical structures, particularly zygapophysealor uncovertebral joints of the cervical spine [4].A frequently seen cause of the neck pain is awkwardoccupational postures, anxiety, stress, heavy lifting, andphysically demanding work [5].Janda [6] described upper crossed syndrome as facilitationof the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, sternocleidomastoid,and pectoralis muscles, as well as inhibition of thedeep cervical flexors, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior.These muscle imbalances and movement dysfunctions mayhave a direct effect on joint surfaces, thus potentiallyleading to joint degeneration. In some cases, joint degenerationmay be a direct source of pain, but the actual causeof pain has been often secondary to muscle imbalance [7].A wide variety of treatment protocols for mechanicalneck pain are available. However, the most effectivemanagement remains an area of debate.Both muscle energy technique (MET) and stretching arewidely used techniques in the field of physiotherapy. MET isan advanced stretching techniques [7]. Studies using thesetwo techniques individually in symptomatic as well as inasymptomatic population have shown improvement [8e12],but very few studies have compared these techniques in asymptomatic population, where conflicting results are seen[13e20]. A study done by Mahajan et al [17] comparedthese two treatment technique in patients with mechanicalneck pain. There is lack of evidence to allow conclusions tobe drawn about the effectiveness of MET when comparedwith stretching exercises for relieving mechanical neckpain. Therefore this study will add to the growing body ofknowledge that if these two techniques yield comparableoutcomes and if one technique is superior to the other,which should be the alternative choice of therapy. Therefore,the study was done to compare effect of MET whencompared with passive stretching in reducing pain andfunctional disability in patients with mechanical neck pain.
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