Comparative Study of Treatment of Trigger Points Pain With Two Techniques .1 Muscle Energy Technique Alone 2. Combined Approach

ObjectiveTo compare efficacy of Muscle energy technique alone, and combination of Muscle energy Technique with stretching in treatment of Trigger point pain of cervical muscle in terms of pain reduction, and Neck Disability Index. Methods Fourty patients with age 18 _40 years having non-specific neck pain with trigger points in either upper trapezius levator scapulae and sternocleidomastoid trigger points were taken from the phyical therapy department of Shalamar hospital Lahore. Patients were randomized into two groups, One group received Muscle energy techniques while the second group received an integrated or combined approach consisting of muscle energy techniques and passive stretching. Each manure was repeated for three to five times per treatment session 3 days in a week for 4 consecutive weeks. After 4 week patients were reassessed for improvement in neck disability index and reduction in pain on visual analogue scale. ResultsThe results showed that The P-value for neck disability index NDI in group B using combined approach was 0.000 and for VAS was 0.002 which is less than the level of significance 0.005. So the findings of this study indicated that combined approach (MET with stretching) is more effective in deactivation of trigger points pain in term of reducing pain, and improving neck disability index. ConclusionIt was concluded that combination of muscle energy technique with stretching is more effective than Muscle energy technique alone for patients with trigger point pain.