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CompletedNCT06459518Updated Jul 4, 2025

Effectiveness of Bowen Technique vs Muscle Energy Technique in Neck Pain.

An interventional study of Bowen Therapy along with conventional therapy and Muscle Energy Technique with Conventional Therapy in Neck Pain and Musculoskeletal Manipulation, sponsored by Riphah International University. Completed at 1 site in Pakistan. Open to participants aged 15 Years to 35 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-07-04.

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

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
36
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
15 Years to 35 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Mechanical neck pain, also known as non-specific neck pain, is a prevalent ailment that results from problems with spine and surrounding tissue function. Trauma, degenerative changes, strained muscles, and bad posture are among the causes. The range of symptoms includes headaches, stiffness, and mild to severe pain. The goal of treatment is to strengthen the muscles and improve posture. The diagnosis is clinical. The Bowen Technique is a type of gentle bodywork therapy that promotes relaxation and overall rebalancing by using specific movements to activate the autonomic nerve system. It is sought for the improvement of general well-being, pain alleviation, and stress reduction. Patients undergoing manual treatment will be asked to actively contract their muscles against regulated resistance using the Muscle Energy Technique (MET). It addresses problems including joint limitations and attempts to return muscles and joints to their normal functions.

Read the detailed description

The research, will last for ten months at the Limit Institute of Health Sciences in Sahiwal, is a randomized controlled trial. With 10 participants in each group using a non-probability convenient sampling procedure, the sample size includes 10% attrition. Computer users between the ages of 18 and 35 who work five to seven hours a day meet the inclusion criteria, but recent musculoskeletal injuries and a history of head or spine trauma are the exclusion criteria. One instrument used to collect data is the Neck Disability Index (NDI). There are two established study groups: Group B will receive Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and traditional physiotherapy, while Group A will receive Bowen therapy and conventional physiotherapy. Blinding will be used, and the study will adhere to a recruitment, enrollment, and randomization procedure. SPSS version 23 will be used to analyze the data, and descriptive statistics, change over temporal analysis as well as tests of group comparison. The purpose of the study is to evaluate how the interventions affect people who use computers for extended periods in terms of their functional results and mechanical neck discomfort.

02

Conditions studied

  • Neck Pain
  • Musculoskeletal Manipulation

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Keywords

  • Bowen Therapy
  • Mechanical Neck Pain
  • Muscle Energy Technique
03

In context

Neck Pain

1,232 studies on the registry are indexed under Neck Pain; 254 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 36 is below 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
15 Years to 35 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Computer users who work 5-7 hours daily.
  • Age between 18 to 35 will be included.
  • Both genders

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any recent musculoskeletal injury of upper limb or spine.
  • History of any trauma of spine or head
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
36 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Bowen Therapy along with Conventional Therapy

    Group A will receive Bowen Therapy along with Conventional Therapy

    Other: Bowen Therapy along with conventional therapy

  • Active comparator
    Muscle Energy Technique along with conventional Therapy

    Group B will receive Muscle Energy Technique along with Conventional Therapy

    Other: Muscle Energy Technique with Conventional Therapy

Interventions

  • OtherBowen Therapy along with conventional therapy

    Bowen Technique Group Assignment: Participants will be assigned to undergo targeted Bowen Technique therapy sessions. Session Details: The therapy sessions will include: * Gentle, rolling-type maneuvers * Specific placements of fingers and thumbs * Focus on muscles, tendons, and ligaments associated with neck pain Therapeutic Pauses: There will be intentional pauses between sets of moves to allow the body time to respond to the therapeutic stimulation. Conventional Therapy: Hot pack, TENS, Passive Stretching 2 times a week for 4 weeks

  • OtherMuscle Energy Technique with Conventional Therapy

    MET Session Structure: Participants will engage in Muscle Energy Technique (MET) sessions that focus on: * Isometric muscle contractions, where muscles are contracted without changing length. * Therapist-guided, controlled contractions against specific resistance. * Relaxation Periods: Each contraction session will be followed by a period of relaxation to allow muscles to recover and respond to the therapy. conventional therapy: Hot pack, TENS, Passive Stretching 2times a week for 4 weeks.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain level

    The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is a straightforward tool used to measure pain intensity in adults, including those suffering from chronic pain associated with rheumatic conditions. It features an 11-point scale, where '0' indicates no pain and '10' signifies the most extreme pain possible, described as "pain as bad as you can imagine" or "the worst pain imaginable."

    Time frame: 4th week

  2. Functional Disability

    A self-reported questionnaire called the Neck Disability Index (NDI) is used to gauge how neck pain affects a person's ability to function and go about their everyday life. It is divided into eleven sections that address different tasks such as sleeping, work, reading, lifting, and personal care. In each category, respondents rate the level of difficulty they encounter; scores are added together to produce a percentage that indicates the degree of disability. When conducting clinical assessments, the NDI is a useful instrument that helps medical practitioners determine the degree of functional limits and provide personalized interventions for patients with neck discomfort.

    Time frame: 4th week

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Maryam Polyclinic Sahiwal
    Sahiwal, Punjab Province 57000, Pakistan
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Masaracchio M, Kirker K, States R, Hanney WJ, Liu X, Kolber M. Thoracic spine manipulation for the management of mechanical neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2019 Feb 13;14(2):e0211877. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211877. eCollection 2019. PubMed 30759118 ↗
  • Verhagen AP. Physiotherapy management of neck pain. J Physiother. 2021 Jan;67(1):5-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jphys.2020.12.005. Epub 2020 Dec 24. No abstract available. PubMed 33358545 ↗
  • Joshi S, Balthillaya G, Neelapala YVR. Thoracic Posture and Mobility in Mechanical Neck Pain Population: A Review of the Literature. Asian Spine J. 2019 Jun 3;13(5):849-860. doi: 10.31616/asj.2018.0302. Print 2019 Oct. PubMed 31154701 ↗
  • Al-Khazali HM, Kroll LS, Ashina H, Melo-Carrillo A, Burstein R, Amin FM, Ashina S. Neck pain and headache: Pathophysiology, treatments and future directions. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2023 Aug;66:102804. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2023.102804. Epub 2023 Jun 16. PubMed 37394323 ↗
  • Peng B, Yang L, Li Y, Liu T, Liu Y. Cervical Proprioception Impairment in Neck Pain-Pathophysiology, Clinical Evaluation, and Management: A Narrative Review. Pain Ther. 2021 Jun;10(1):143-164. doi: 10.1007/s40122-020-00230-z. Epub 2021 Jan 12. PubMed 33464539 ↗
  • Bonilla-Barba L, Florencio LL, Rodriguez-Jimenez J, Falla D, Fernandez-de-Las-Penas C, Ortega-Santiago R. Women with mechanical neck pain exhibit increased activation of their superficial neck extensors when performing the cranio-cervical flexion test. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2020 Oct;49:102222. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2020.102222. Epub 2020 Jul 11. PubMed 32861371 ↗

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 Jul 4, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06459518
Lead sponsor
Riphah International University
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jun 14, 2024
Start date
Dec 15, 2024
Primary completion
May 15, 2025
Completion
Jun 1, 2025
Last update
Jul 4, 2025

Study contacts

Hafiza Wajeeha Saeed, DPT
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 ↗

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