Adding Dry Needling to Post-Isometric Relaxation Reduces Pain and Disability in Office Workers with Non-Specific Neck Pain
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Non-specific neck pain in office workers has increased due to changes in work habits after the pandemic. Manual therapy approaches such as Post-Isometric Relaxation (PIR) and Dry Needling (DN) are promising but lack sufficient research support. This study aims to evaluate the effects of PIR combined with DN, as well as compare DN with PIR alone. This experimental study employed a randomized two-group pre-test-post-test design. The intervention group (IG) received DN in addition to PIR, while the control group (CG) received only PIR. Each group comprised 16 participants. The study was conducted over two weeks, with three PIR sessions and two DN sessions per week. Measurements using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and the Neck Disability Index (NDI) were taken two weeks post-study and at a one-month follow-up. Results showed both groups experienced reductions in NPRS and NDI disability scores at the second-week evaluation with p <0.001. However, there were no significant differences in NPRS and NDI scores at the one-month follow-up (NDI p=0.620 and 0.319; NPRS p=0.705 and 0.206). The intervention group showed better results at the second-week evaluation with NPRS p=0.005 and NDI p <0.001, but not at the one-month follow-up with NPRS p=0.984 and NDI p=0.280. Thus, adding DN to PIR is more effective in reducing pain and disability in non-specific neck pain among office workers.
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
Moretti A, Menna F, Aulicino M, Paoletta M, Liguori S, Iolascon G. Characterization of Home Working Population during COVID-19 Emergency: A Cross-Sectional Analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Aug 28;17(17):6284.
Kazeminasab S, Nejadghaderi SA, Amiri P, Pourfathi H, Araj-Khodaei M, Sullman MJM, et al. Neck pain: Global epidemiology, trends, and risk factors. Vol. 23, BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. BioMed Central Ltd; 2022.
Christensen SWM, Palsson TS, Krebs HJ, Graven-Nielsen T, et al.. Prolonged slumped sitting causes neck pain and increased axioscapular muscle activity during a computer task in healthy participants in a randomized crossover study. Appl Ergon. 2023 Jul;110:104020.
Kallings L V., Blom V, Ekblom B, Holmlund T, Eriksson JS, Andersson G, et al. Workplace sitting is associated with self-reported general health and back/neck pain: A cross-sectional analysis of 44,978 employees. BMC Public Health. 2021 Dec 6;21(1):875.
Fadel M, Bodin J, Cros F, Descatha A, Roquelaure Y. Teleworking and Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Systematic Review. Vol. 20, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. MDPI; 2023.
Sitthipornvorakul E, Janwantanakul P, Purepong N, Pensri P, Van Der Beek AJ. The association between physical activity and neck and low back pain: A systematic review. Vol. European Spine Journal 20. 2011. p. 677–89.
Hanna F, Daas RN, El-Shareif TJ HH ZM et al.. Relationship between sedentary behavior, back pain, and psychosocial correlates among university employees. Front Public Health. 2019;7(APR).
Zheng B, Zheng L, Li M, Lin J, Zhu Y, Jin L, et al. Gender differences in factors associated with neck pain among undergraduate healthcare students: A cross-sectional survey. BMC Musculoskeletal disorder 2022 Dec 1;23(1).
Touma J, May T and Isaacson AC. Cervical Myofascial Pain. 2024.
Cao QW, Peng BG, Wang L, Huang YQ, Jia DL, Jiang H, et al. Expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of myofascial pain syndrome. World J Clin Cases. 2021;9(9):2077–89.
Urits I, Charipova K, Gress K, Schaaf AL, Gupta S, Kiernan HC, et al. Treatment and management of myofascial pain syndrome. Vol. 34, Best Practice and research: clinical anesthesiology. Bailliere Tindall Ltd; 2020. p. 427–48.
Waxenbaum JA, Lu M. Physiology and Muscle Energy. 2023.
Thomas E, Cavallaro AR, Mani D, Bianco A, Palma A. Efficacy of muscle energy techniques in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects: a systematic review. Vol. 27, Chiropractic and Manual Therapies. BioMed Central Ltd.; 2019.
Phadke A, Bedekar N, Shyam A, et al.: Effect of muscle energy technique and static stretching on pain and functional disability in patients with mechanical neck pain: A randomized controlled trial. Hong Kong Physiotherapy Journal. 2016 Dec 1;35:5–11.
Khan ZK, Ahmed SI, Baig AAM and Farooqui WA. Effect of post-isometric relaxation versus myofascial release therapy on pain, functional disability, and rom and qol in the management of non-specific neck pain: A randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskeletal disorder 2022 Dec 1;23(1).
Joshi R, Poojary N. The effect of muscle energy technique and posture correction exercises on pain and function in patients with non-specific chronic neck pain with forward head posture: a randomized controlled trial International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork: Research, Education and Practice. 2022 Jun 1;15(2):14–21.
Lin LH, Lin TY, Chang KV, Wu WT, Özçakar L. Muscle energy technique to reduce pain and disability in cases of non-specific neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Heliyon. 2023 Nov;9(11):e22469.
Sbardella S, La Russa C, Bernetti A, Mangone M, Guarnera A, Pezzi L, et al. Muscle energy technique in rehabilitative treatment for acute and chronic non specific neck pain: A systematic review. Healthcare. 2021 Jun 17;9(6):746.
Cagnie B, Dewitte V, Barbe T, Timmermans F, Delrue N, Meeus M. Physiologic effects of dry needling topical collection on myofascial pain. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2013 Aug 1;17(8).
Almushahhim M, Nuhmani S, Muslem WH al.. Short-term effects of dry needling with a standard exercise program on pain and quality of life in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain. J Clin Med. 2022 Oct 1;11(20).
Martín-Sacristán L, Calvo-Lobo C, Pecos-Martín D, Fernández-Carnero J, Alonso-Pérez JL. Dry needling in active or latent trigger points in patients with neck pain: A randomized clinical trial. Sci Rep. 2022 Dec 1;12(1).
Rodríguez-Huguet M, Vinolo-Gil MJ, Góngora-Rodríguez J. Dry Needling in Physical Therapy Treatment of Chronic Neck Pain: Systematic Review. Vol. 11, Journal of Clinical Medicine. MDPI; 2022.
Sobhani V, Shamsoddini A, Khatibi-Aghda A, Mazloum V, Kia HH, Emami Meybodi MK. Effectiveness of dry needling, manual therapy, and Kinesio Tapingfi in patients with chronic myofascial neck pain: A single-blind clinical trial. Trauma Mon. 2017 Nov 1;22(6).
Hernández-Secorún M, Abenia-Benedí H, Borrella-Andrés S, Marqués-García I, Lucha-López MO, Herrero P, et al. Effectiveness of Dry Needling in Improving Pain and Function in Comparison with Other Techniques in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Pain Res Manag. 2023 Aug 23;2023:1–14.
Stieven FF, Ferreira GE, Wiebusch M, de Araújo FX, da Rosa LHT, Silva MF. Dry Needling Combined With Guideline-Based Physical Therapy Provides No Added Benefit in the Management of Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Orthop. Sports. Phys. Ther. 2020 Aug;50(8):447–54.
Osama M. Effects of autogenic and reciprocal inhibition muscle energy techniques on isometric muscle strength in neck pain: A randomized controlled trial. J Back Musculoskeletal Rehabil. 2021;34(4):555–64.
Hotta K, Behnke BJ, Arjmandi B, Ghosh P, Chen B, Brooks R, et al. Daily muscle stretching enhances blood flow, endothelial function, capillarity, vascular volume, and connectivity in aged skeletal muscle. J Physiol. 2018 May 15;596(10):1903–17.
Alghadir AH, Iqbal A, Anwer S, Iqbal ZA, Ahmed H. Efficacy of Combination Therapies on Neck Pain and Muscle Tenderness in Male Patients with Upper Trapezius Active Myofascial Trigger Points. Biomed Res Int. 2020;2020:9361405.
Buttagat V, Muenpan K, Wiriyasakunphan WS S et al.. A comparative study of Thai massage and muscle energy technique for chronic neck pain: A single-blinded randomized clinical trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2021 Jul;27:647–53.
Ghulam HS, Alqhtani RS, Alshahrani A, Ahmed H, Khan AR, Khan A. Efficacy of cervical mobilization with post-isometric relaxation in managing mechanical neck pain, ROM, and functional limitations associated with myofascial trigger points. Medicine. 2023 Dec 29;102(52):e36710.
Ceballos-Laita L, Medrano-De-La-Fuente R, Mingo-Gómez MT, Hernando-Garijo I, Estébanez-De-Miguel E, Jiménez-Del-Barrio S. Effects of dry needling on pain, disability, kinesiophobia, pain catastrophizing, and psychological distress in patients with chronic neck pain: A randomized controlled pilot study. J Back Musculoskeletal Rehabil. 2022;35(2):393–401.
Valiente-Castrillo P, Martín-Pintado-Zugasti A, Calvo-Lobo C, Beltran-Alacreu H al.. Effects of pain neuroscience education and dry needling for the management of patients with chronic myofascial neck pain: a randomized clinical trial. Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society. 2021 Apr;39(2):91–105.
Gattie E, Cleland JA, Pandya J, Snodgrass S. Dry needling ads no benefit to the treatment of neck pain: A Sham-Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial With 1-Year Follow-up. J Orthop. Sports. Phys. Ther. 2021 Jan;51(1):37–45.
Shahidi B, Curran-Everett D, Maluf KS. Psychosocial, Physical, and Neurophysiological Risk Factors for Chronic Neck Pain: A Prospective Inception Cohort Study. J Pain. 2015 Dec;16(12):1288–99.