The effect of active release and release of trigger points on pain, disability and neck strength in girls with non-specific chronic neck pain

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of active release technique and trigger point release on pain, disability, and neck muscle strength in female students with non-specific chronic neck pain.

This study is designed as a randomized clinical trial with three groups (active release therapy, myofascial release, and control group) over a period of 2 weeks, with 3 sessions per week

Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Razi University, Kermanshah

Inclusion criteria included: Gender and educational status: Participants must be female students within a certain age range (e.g., 25 to 35 years old). Pain diagnosis: Having chronic nonspecific neck pain for at least 3 months as confirmed by a physician. Pain level: Having a minimum specified level of pain (e.g., a score of 3 or more on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)). And exclusion criteria included: Underlying diseases: Having diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, cervical disc herniation, or severe structural injuries in the neck. Surgical history: Having a history of surgery in the neck or spine. Neurological problems: Having neurological symptoms such as tingling, numbness, or progressive muscle weakness in the upper limbs.

The first group will perform Active Release Technique (ART) exercises over two weeks, totaling six sessions, involving deep trapezius muscle stretching and neck movements. The second group will undergo Myofascial Release (MFR) exercises during the same period, involving pressure application and specific neck motions, while the third group, as the control, will receive no intervention

Pain, Disability, and Strength of Neck Muscles

In the present study, to ensure the random allocation of participants into groups, a simple randomization method was employed. To this end, each participant was first assigned a unique identification number. Subsequently, using a computer-generated random number table, participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups (intervention or control group) without any subjective interference from the researcher. This process ensures that each participant has an equal chance of being placed in either group and that no bias influences the allocation procedure.

In the present study, a single-blind method of blinding was employed. In this approach, participants were not informed about whether they were assigned to the intervention group or the control group. This measure was taken to reduce the influence of personal expectations and biases of the participants on the study outcomes. However, the researchers responsible for implementing the interventions (such as aerobic exercises or other protocols) were aware of the group assignments. To ensure the effectiveness of this blinding method, participants were asked to refrain from discussing their group assignments with others throughout the study. Additionally, similar and standardized instructions were provided to both groups to minimize any perceived differences between them for the participants. This approach helps reduce errors caused by participant bias and enhances the scientific validity of the study.

All data will be recorded in SPSS and can be presented.

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Moghadamhanan@gmail.com

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