Table 2.
Description of intervention in non-specific acute neck pain.
| Study Population | Method | Dosages and Frequency of Intervention | Assessment Intervals | Outcome Measures | Conclusions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kashyap et al. (2018) [34] | Group 1 (n = 15) 21.27 ± 3.86 years Group 2 (n = 15) 22.07 ± 4.11 years Group 3 (n = 15) 21.13 ± 3.00 years |
TPT+ MPR TPT+ MET TPT |
Four times a lesson | T1: baseline T2: 5 days T3: 10 days T4: 15 days |
Neck Pain: (VAS-PPT) Disability (NDI) Joint function (ROM) |
MPR and MET are equally effective for decreasing pain intensity and functional disability of the neck (p value < 0.05) |
| Gilani et al. (2018) [35] | Group 1 (n = 15) Group 2 (n = 15) |
MET IC |
12 series/lessons for 4 weeks | T1: baseline T2: 1-week T3: 2 weeks T4: 3 weeks T5: 4 weeks |
Neck Pain: (VAS-NPRS) Disability (NDI) Joint function (ROM) |
IC and MET was more effective for improving range of motion and for reducing neck pain (p value = 0.000). |
| Basak et al. (2018) [36] | Group 1 (n = 14) Group 2 (n = 14) |
IC and MET DN and MET |
Three times a week | T1: baseline T2: 1 week |
Neck Pain: (PPA-NPDA) Joint function (STG) |
IC and DN were equally effective in combination with MET in the treatment of upper trapezius MTrPs. (p value < 0.05) |
| Tank et al. (2018) [37] | Group 1 (n = 20) Group 2 (n = 20) |
MET and TPT MS and TPT |
MET: Three times a week MS: Three times a week TPT: Six times a week |
T1: baseline T2: 2 weeks |
Neck Pain: (VAS) Disability (NDI) Joint function (ROM) |
MET and MS plus conventional therapy could be used as alternative treatment for nonspecific acute neck pain. |
| Phadke et al. (2016) [38] | Group 1 (n = 28) Group 2 (n = 28) |
MET and TPT MS and TPT |
Six times a week | T1: baseline T2: 6 days |
Neck Pain: (VAS) Disability (NDI) |
MET with strain-counter strain produced greater improvement in pain pressure threshold, function status and reduced pain intensity. |
| Iqbal et al. (2016) [39] | Group 1 (n = 15) Group 2 (n = 15) Group 3 (n = 15) |
MET and strain MET TPT |
T1: baseline T2: 1-day T3: 5 days |
Neck Pain: (VAS-PPT) Disability (NDI) |
The combination of MET and strain technique produced improvement in pain pressure threshold, function status and reduction in pain (p value < 0.000). | |
| Kirthika et al. (2016) [40] | Group 1 (n = 15) Group 2 (n = 15) |
MET IC |
T1: pre-test T2: post test |
Neck Pain: (VAS) Joint function (ROM) |
MET was superior to IC in improving cervical lateral flexion. | |
| Yehaneh Lari et al. (2015) [41] | Group 1 (n = 20) 25.60 ± 0.8 years Group 2 (n = 20) 24.78 ± 0.7 years Group 3 (n = 20) 24.60 ± 0.9 years |
DN and MET MET DN |
3 lessons MET: 3/5 repetitions a lesson |
T1: baseline T2: second lessons T3: third lessons T4: follow up |
Neck Pain: (VAS-PPT) Joint function (ROM) |
Group 1 showed more significant improvement than the other two groups. (p value < 0.001) |
| Shah et al. (2015) [42] | Group 1 (n = 15) 33.2 ± 3.61 years Group 2 (n = 15) 35.66 ± 5.32 years |
MET and TPT IC and TPT |
One week | T1: baseline T2: 6 days |
Neck Pain: (VAS-PPT) Joint function (ROM) |
MET brought more benefits on improving ROM than IC. |
| Yadav et al. (2015) [43] | Group 1 (n = 30) Group 2 (n = 30) Group 3 (n = 30) Age between 18 to 45 years |
TPT DNF and TPT MET and TPT |
Five times a week for two weeks | T1: baseline T2: 1-week T3: 2 weeks |
Neck Pain: (VAS) Joint function (ROM) Disability (NDI) |
MET had statistically more significant improvement of outcomes. |
| Yatheendra Kumar et al. (2015) [44] | Group 1 (n = 30) Group 2 (n = 30) Group 3 (n = 30) |
MET and TENS IC and TENS SCS and TENS |
Three times a week for four weeks | T1: baseline T2: 2 weeks T3: 4 weeks |
Neck Pain: (VAS) Joint function (ROM) Disability (NDI) |
MET was superior in the treatment of upper trapezius trigger points. |
| Nambi et al. (2013) [45] | Group 1 (n = 15) 46.20 ± 5.88 years Group 2 (n = 15) 45.46 ± 5.44 years |
MET and US IC and US |
Three times a week for four weeks | T1: baseline T2: 4 weeks |
Neck Pain: (VAS) Joint function (ROM) | MET significantly improves disability and cervical ROM. (p value < 0.05) |
| Richa et al. (2012) [46] | Group 1 (n = 15) Group 2 (n = 15) Group 3 (n = 15) 18–43 years |
MET and TPT STRETCHING and TPT TPT | For two weeks MET: 6 sessions TPT: 10 sessions Stretching: 6 sessions | T1: baseline T2: 2 weeks |
Neck Pain: (VAS) Joint function (ROM) Disability (NDI) | MET and stretching techniques treated successfully mechanical subacute neck pain |
| Sata et al. (2012) [47] | Group 1 (n = 25) 30.80 ± 5.36 years Group 2 (n = 27) 29.44 ± 5.38 years |
MET MRT |
Six times a week | T1: baseline T2: 1 week |
Neck Pain: (VAS-PPT) Disability (NDI) |
Met was more effective treatment |
| Nagrale et al. (2010) [48] | Group 1 (n = 32) Group 2 (n = 32) 19–38 years |
MET INIT |
Four weeks | T1: baseline T2: 2 weeks T3:4 weeks |
Neck Pain: (VAS) Joint function (ROM) Disability (NDI) |
INIT resulted more beneficial than MET in isolation |
Legend: DN: dry needling; DNF: deep neck flexors; IC: ischemic compression; INIT: integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique; MET: muscle energy technique; MPR: manual pressure release; MRT: myofascial release therapy; MS: mulligan snags; NDI: neck disability index; NPAD: neck pain and disability scale; NPRS: numerical pain rating scale; PPA: pain pressure algometer; PPT: pressure pain threshold; ROM: range of motion; STG: spin T goniometer; TPT: traditional physiotherapy treatment; US: ultrasound; VAS: visual analogue scale.