Post Isometric Relaxation Versus Passive Neck Retraction Mobilization: A Comparative Pilot Study in Patients with Non-Specific Neck Pain

Abstract

Generalised neck discomfort is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition. This disorder can be brought on by irregularities in the posture of the neck or in the innervated neck tissues like the common roots, muscles, ligaments, zygapophyseal joints, and intervertebral discs. This study investigates the impact of passive neck retraction mobilization and post-isometric relaxation on the range of motion, discomfort, and functional impairment in individuals experiencing nonspecific neck pain. A single-blinded clinical trial was conducted involving 12 patients, divided into two groups: Group A and Group B. Group A received post-isometric relaxation, while Group B received passive neck retraction mobilization. The intervention was applied 5 times in the first week and alternate days in the 2nd week and 3rd weeks. NPRS, NDI and ROM were measured prior to the experiment and on 8th, 15th and 22nd day after the experiment. Although both groups' total improvement in NPRS, functional impairment, and cervical ROM improved statistically significantly. In this study, post isometric relaxation has been shown to be clinically more meaningful than passive neck retraction mobilisation. Furthermore, this study suggests that post-isometric relaxation may be a useful intervention in clinical practice and supports its use by clinical physiotherapists in the treatment of nonspecific neck discomfort.