TENS Versus Ultrasound With Exercise for Mechanical Neck Pain.
ConditionMechanical Neck Pain
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-45
SponsorDow University of Health Sciences
About this trial
This randomized clinical trial aims to compare the effectiveness of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and therapeutic ultrasound, both combined with therapeutic exercises, in the management of mechanical neck pain.
A total of 44 participants male and female both with mechanical neck pain will be randomly allocated into two equal groups at the physiotherapy OPD of DOW Institute of Physical Medicine \& Rehabilitation, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi. Group A will receive TENS with exercise, while group B will receive ultrasound with the same exercise protocol.
Both groups will receive 9 treatment sessions over 2 weeks. Outcomes will include pain intensity, functional disability, and cervical range of motion, assessed before and after the intervention.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Diagnosed and referred patients with mechanical neck pain.
Participants with subacute or chronic neck pain.
Participants willing to participate in the study.
Participants with a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score greater than 5 (moderate to severe pain).
Disqualifiers
Participants with other musculoskeletal disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, cervical spondylosis, spondylolisthesis, cervical radiculopathy, malignancy, or neurological disorders.
Participants with a history of trauma or whiplash injury.
Participants with chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia.
Participants with vertigo or dizziness.
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Arm 1 Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) Therapeutic Exercise Heating Pad. Arm 2 Therapeutic Ultrasound Therapeutic Exercise Heating Pad
DeviceParticipants will receive Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for 15 minutes, heating therapy for 10 minutes, followed by cervical active stretching and isometric exercises during each treatment session. A total of 9 sessions will be conducted over 2 weeks. Participants will receive therapeutic ultrasound for 10 minutes, heating therapy for 10 minutes, followed by cervical active stretching and isometric exercises during each treatment session. A total of 9 sessions will be conducted over 2 weeks.
Treatment groups
44 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: Group B (Ultrasound with Exercise)Placebo comparator 1 intervention
Group B: Group A (TENS with Exercise)Experimental treatment 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for Pain
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for Pain: Scores range from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores indicate worse pain.
Time frame
Baseline and after 2 weeks of treatment.Secondary outcomes
1
Muscle strength measured using Manual Muscle Testing (MMT)
Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) grades muscle strength on a 0 to 5 scale, where 0 indicates no visible or palpable muscle contraction and 5 indicates normal muscle strength against full resistance. Higher scores indicate better muscle strength.
Time frame
Baseline and after 2 weeks of treatment.2
Pressure pain threshold measured using an algometer
Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) is measured using an algometer and recorded in Newtons (N). The pressure pain threshold is the amount of force at which pressure first becomes painful. Higher values indicate a higher pressure pain threshold (better outcome/less pain sensitivity).
Time frame
Baseline and after 2 weeks of treatment.3
Neck disability measured using the Neck Disability Index (NDI)
The Neck Disability Index (NDI) scores range from 0 to 50, where higher scores indicate greater neck disability (worse outcome).
Time frame
Baseline and after 2 weeks of treatment.Sponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov