EFFECTIVENESS OF TWO DIFFERENT TREATMENT PROTOCOLS IN REDUCING NECK DISABILITY: A COMPARATIVE STUDY: A Comparative Analysis of Myofascial Release and Ischemic Compression in Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain
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Neck Pain, Non-Specific Neck Pain, Mechanical Neck Pain, Myofascial Trigger Points, Myofascial Pain Syndrome, Myofascial Release Technique, Ischemic Compression, Trigger Point Release, Neck Disability, Cervical Lateral Flexion##submission.synopsis##
Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders affecting individuals involved in prolonged sitting, repetitive activities, and poor postural habits. Myofascial trigger points present in cervical muscles are considered a major contributing factor in chronic non-specific neck pain and may lead to pain, reduced cervical mobility, and functional disability. Various manual therapy techniques are used in physiotherapy management for reducing symptoms associated with myofascial trigger points. Among these techniques, Myofascial Release (MFR) and Ischemic Compression (IC) are commonly used interventions.
The present study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of Myofascial Release and Ischemic Compression in reducing pain and neck disability and improving cervical lateral flexion in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain. A comparative study design was used. Fifty subjects aged between 20–60 years who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were selected and randomly divided into two groups of 25 subjects each. Group A received hot fomentation, Myofascial Release technique, and stretching exercises, whereas Group B received hot fomentation, Ischemic Compression technique, and stretching exercises. Treatment was administered once daily for four weeks.
Outcome measures included Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain intensity, Neck Disability Index (NDI) for functional disability, and goniometric measurement of cervical lateral flexion. Assessments were performed before treatment, after two weeks, and after four weeks of intervention.
The results of the study demonstrated improvement in both groups with reduction in pain intensity and neck disability along with increased cervical lateral flexion. However, Group A treated with Myofascial Release showed comparatively greater improvement than Group B treated with Ischemic Compression. Statistical analysis indicated significant changes in VAS, NDI, and cervical lateral flexion values following treatment.
The study concluded that both Myofascial Release and Ischemic Compression are effective in managing chronic non-specific neck pain associated with myofascial trigger points. However, Myofascial Release technique was found to be more effective in reducing pain and disability and improving cervical mobility.
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##catalog.published##
जून 5, 2026
##submission.dataAvailability##
The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. The data are not publicly available due to privacy and ethical considerations involving study participants.
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ISBN-13 (15)
978-81-687767-1-5
other::urn
urn:isbn:rep.11.106
##submission.howToCite##
Gaur, N. (Ed.). (2026). EFFECTIVENESS OF TWO DIFFERENT TREATMENT PROTOCOLS IN REDUCING NECK DISABILITY: A COMPARATIVE STUDY: A Comparative Analysis of Myofascial Release and Ischemic Compression in Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain. Research Edge and Publication. https://books.researchedgeandpublication.com/index.php/REP/catalog/book/11
