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CompletedNCT04852913Updated Aug 6, 2021

Bowen's Technique In Postural Neck Pain Among Dentist

An interventional study of Bowen's Technique and Convention Physical Therapy in Neck Pain, sponsored by Riphah International University. Completed at 4 sites in Pakistan. Open to participants aged 25 Years to 50 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-08-06.

Sponsored by Riphah International University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 6 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Oct 2020, registered Apr 2021).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
58
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
25 Years to 50 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

No previous randomized control trial has investigated the effectiveness of Bowen's technique on health status in dentists suffering from postural neck Neck pain. Moreover, there is limited evidence and low agreement regarding the effect of Bowen's therapy on Neck pain. Thus, this study aims to answer the question: bowmen's technique is effective for improving Neck pain dentists' function by reducing pain, and disability, and improving posture, and health status, without need for ergonomic alternation?"

Read the detailed description

Bowen technique may be used for relaxation of tightening muscles in poor posture. The findings suggest that Bowen Therapy has inconsistent immediate effects on postural control and pain threshold in healthy subjects. Further studies are needed using symptomatic participants. No previous randomized control trial, to our knowledge, has investigated the effectiveness of Bowen's technique on health status in dentists suffering from postural neck pain. Moreover, there is limited evidence and low agreement regarding the effect of Bowen's therapy on neck pain. Thus, this study aims to answer the question: Bowen's technique is effective for improving neck pain dentists' function by reducing pain, and disability, and improving posture, and health status, without need for ergonomic alternation?"

02

Conditions studied

  • Neck Pain

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Keywords

  • Pain
  • Dentist
  • Neck
  • Bowen technique
03

In context

Neck Pain

1,232 studies on the registry are indexed under Neck Pain; 255 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 58 is above the median of 52 across 1,004 interventional studies indexed under Neck Pain.

Browse Neck Pain studies →

Lead sponsor

Riphah International University is the lead sponsor of 2,133 studies on the registry; 633 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
25 Years to 50 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Both male and females
  • Age between 25-50 years. ( House officers and Assistant professor)
  • Working hours >5 hours.
  • History of cervical pain >2 months.
  • Year of practice =\<1 year
  • Treated more than 5 patient a day

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Cervical fracture
  • Cervical radiculopathy
  • Any surgery to neck and shoulder
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Sever pain according to Numeric pain rating scale (NPRS)
  • Long term anticoagulant or corticosteroid therapy
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Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Investigator)
Enrollment
58 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Bowen's Technique

    Bowen's Technique The session lasted for 20 minutes, 3 sessions/week 6th week

    Other: Bowen's Technique

  • Active comparator
    Conventional Physical Therapy

    Conventional Physical Therapy with myofascial release The session lasted for 20 minutes, 3 sessions/week 6th week

    Other: Convention Physical Therapy

Interventions

  • OtherBowen's Technique

    The thumb of the therapist was placed on the top of the targeted muscle (upper trapezius, levator scapulae, tight pectoralis and sternocleidomastoid, longissimus capitis, splenius capitis cervical multifidus). The skin was carried away gently from the spine without disturbing the muscle. The thumb was then hooked into the lateral aspect of the muscle to form a pressure on the muscle. Then the thumb was flattened in the medial direction, when this happened the muscle would plop or 15 respond in some way. Heating pad + TENS will be given The session lasted for 20 minutes 3sessions/week for 6th week

  • OtherConvention Physical Therapy

    Myofascial Release + Active Range of Motion Deep transverse friction was given for 10 minutes followed by myofascial stretching of muscle for 3 times, each holding for 90 seconds. Then myofascial release was given using ulnar border of both palms of the therapist. Active range of motion exercises will be given 10 reps with 5 seconds hold. Heating pad + Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator (TENS) will be given The session lasted for 20 minutes 3sessions/week for 6th week

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Modified Goniometer

    Modified goniometer can be used to measure craniovertebral angle which is helpful to assess the level of postural disability like forward head posture. It provides an estimation of head on neck angle and position of upper cervical spine.

    Time frame: 6th week

  2. Numerical Rating Scale

    In a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), patients circle the number between 0 and 10, 0 and 20 or 0 and 100 according to their pain intensity. It is numeric version of visual analog scale.

    Time frame: 6th week

  3. Neck Disability Index

    This is a standard instrument for measuring disability due to neck pain and it's a self-reported questionnaire. Each of the 10 items is scored from 0 - 5. The maximum score is therefore 50. The obtained score can be multiplied by 2 to produce a percentage score.

    Time frame: 6th week

07

Study locations

4 sites
  • Bakhtawar Amin Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Center
    Multān, Punjab, Pakistan
  • Ibn e Sina hospital
    Multān, Punjab, Pakistan
  • Nishtar Medical Hospital
    Multān, Punjab, Pakistan
  • Salma Medical Center
    Multān, Punjab, Pakistan
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Dalal P, Kage V. Comparison Of Ischaemic Compression, Myofascial Release And BowenS Technique In Non Specific Neck Pain-A Randomized Clinical Trial. Indian Journal of Applied Research. 2020;10(1).
  • Nitsure P, Kothari N. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BOWEN TECHNIQUE AS AN ADJUNCT TO CONVENTIONAL PHYSIOTHERAPY ON PAIN AND FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES IN SUBJECT WITH ACUTE TRAPEZITIS-A PILOT STUDY. Romanian Journal of Physical Therapy/Revista Romana de Kinetoterapie. 2015;21(36).
  • Al Wazzan KA, Almas K, Al Shethri SE, Al-Qahtani MQ. Back & neck problems among dentists and dental auxiliaries. J Contemp Dent Pract. 2001 Aug 15;2(3):17-30. PubMed 12167924 ↗
  • Gupta BD, Aggarwal S, Gupta B, Gupta M, Gupta N. Effect of Deep Cervical Flexor Training vs. Conventional Isometric Training on Forward Head Posture, Pain, Neck Disability Index In Dentists Suffering from Chronic Neck Pain. J Clin Diagn Res. 2013 Oct;7(10):2261-4. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2013/6072.3487. Epub 2013 Oct 5. PubMed 24298492 ↗
  • Abiodun-Solanke IM, Agbaje JO, Ajayi DM, Arotiba JT. Prevalence of neck and back pain among dentists and dental auxiliaries in South-western Nigeria. Afr J Med Med Sci. 2010 Jun;39(2):137-42. PubMed 21117410 ↗
  • Letafatkar A, Rabiei P, Alamooti G, Bertozzi L, Farivar N, Afshari M. Effect of therapeutic exercise routine on pain, disability, posture, and health status in dentists with chronic neck pain: a randomized controlled trial. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2020 Apr;93(3):281-290. doi: 10.1007/s00420-019-01480-x. Epub 2019 Oct 25. PubMed 31654125 ↗
  • Pargali N, Jowkar N. Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among dentists in Shiraz, Southern Iran. Int J Occup Environ Med. 2010 Apr;1(2):69-74. PubMed 23022788 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 6, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04852913
Lead sponsor
Riphah International University
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Apr 21, 2021
Start date
Oct 17, 2020
Primary completion
Jun 15, 2021
Completion
Jul 10, 2021
Last update
Aug 6, 2021

Study contacts

Nazish Rafique, MSPT
principal investigator · Riphah International University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Aug 2021. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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