Sajjad Ali, Shakeel Ahmad, Yasir Jalal, Bushra Shah.
Effectiveness of Stretching Exercises Versus Muscle Energy Techniques in the Management of Upper Cross Syndrome.
J Riphah Coll Rehab Sci Jan ;5(1):12-6.

Background: Cervical pain can occur at any stage and can restrict daily activities of an individual. In Physical Therapy different manual therapy techniques are used for the treatment of upper cross syndrome. Muscle energy techniques and stretching are under consideration. Objective: To compare the efficacy of muscles energy techniques and stretching exercises on pain and Range of motion in upper cross syndrome patients. Methodology: This study was conducted at Physical Therapy Department of Helping Hand Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences Mansehra from January 2016 to August 2016 on 52 patients with upper cross syndrome. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups A and B. Group A was treated with muscles energy technique (MET) while Group B was treated with stretching exercises. Including this specialized treatment both groups were treated with conventional physical therapy and home exercise plan, 3 sessions per week for a period of 16 Sessions. The patients outcome measures were Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Goniometer. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: Statistically pain in Group A was improved from (Pre =5.38 +0.85, Post =1.23+0.42) is compared to Group B (Pre =5.53+1.06, Post =2.11+0.86). The cervical flexion ROM in group A (Pre=50.00 +4.24, Post=69.61+5.08) and in group B (Pre=53.26 +6.15, Post =65.76 +6.43). The cervical-extension ROM in group A (Pre=47.11 +4.04, Post =64.80 +5.19) and in group B was (Pre =47.88+5.13, Post=59.80 + 5.91). The mean of neck disability index (NDI) was improved from (Pre =19.80 +4.40, Post 4.42 +1.41) for group A. Group B mean for neck disability index (NDI) was improved from (Pre=19.38+ 5.25, Post= 9.57 +4.85). The pre-and post-results showed that both groups were statistically significant group A (p value 0.000) and group B (p value 0.000). Conclusion: It is concluded that if patients with upper cross syndrome treated with muscles energy technique showed more improvement in decreasing pain, increasing ROM and improving function as compared to stretching exercises Keywords: Cervical pain, Cervical spine, Disability, Range of motion, Upper cross syndrome.

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