A SINGLE BLIND RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL REVIEWING THE SUITABILITY OF THE ALEXANDER AND MULLIGAN TECHNIQUES (SNAGS) IN THE TREATMENT OF NON-SPECIFIC NECK PAIN

Abstract

Objective: To determine the suitability of the alexander and mulligan techniques (snags) in the treatment of non-specific neck pain.

Material & Methods: A single blind randomized controlled trial was conducted. Subjects were allocated randomly in treatment and control groups through lottery method. The neck disability index and the visual analogue scale served as the outcome measures. The study took place in physiotherapy departments of two hospitals of Peshawar, Pakistan from November 2021 to April 2022. Data was collected from neck pain patients of age 18 to 40 years and randomization was done. Group A received alexander plus mulligan technique and isometric exercises. Group B received mulligan technique plus isometric exercises. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks.

Results: Participants in the experimental group were 30.14±5.367 years old, while those in the control group were 28.69±7.158. With a p-value of less than 0.001, the experimental group's visual analogue scale scores before and after treatment showed a significant difference, falling from 8.48±0.63 to 4.40±0.828. With a p-value of 0.023, the visual analogue scale score in the control group decreased from 7.81± 0.733 to 5.81± 0.734. The experimental group's mean neck disability index scores decreased from 32.93±2.823 to 17.52±2.61 with a p-value of 0.002, while the control group's mean scores decreased from 34.81±3.959 to 25.90±1.445 with a p-value of 0.023.

Conclusion: In treating neck pain and disability, Alexander combined with the Mulligan technique proved to be more effective than the latter alone.