Manual Therapy Techniques for Cervical Pain: Algometric Evaluation

Overview

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of different manual therapy techniques in the treatment of cervical pain related to the upper trapezius muscle. The intervention will compare the effects of superficial massage, deep massage, and pressure release technique on pain intensity, assessed through algometry. Additionally, the study aims to determine whether the application of passive stretching following manual treatment leads to a significantly greater reduction in pain compared to groups that do not receive stretching. Finally, the persistence of treatment effects will be evaluated one and two weeks after the intervention.

Methodological Design: This study will be conducted with the participation of undergraduate Physiotherapy students who voluntarily wish to take part in the research. Inclusion Criteria: Be an undergraduate student in Physiotherapy. Be between 18 and 40 years old. Have experienced cervical pain at least once in their life. Present pain localized in the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle. Voluntarily agree to participate in the study by signing an informed consent form. Exclusion Criteria: Suffer from migraines. Have any diagnosed neurological disorders. Have suffered a recent injury or trauma in the cervical region. Have scoliosis or any other relevant spinal pathology. Present any musculoskeletal condition that could interfere with the study outcomes. The participants will be randomly assigned to three groups: Experimental Group 1, Experimental Group 2, and Control Group. Procedure: All participants in the experimental groups will complete a short survey collecting information such as age, sex, and whether they experienced discomfort in the treated area the following day. Baseline pressure pain thresholds will be assessed using algometry (in Kg/cm²) on the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle prior to the intervention. The intervention will consist of superficial massage, deep massage, and the pressure release technique applied to the upper trapezius. Following this, a post-treatment algometric measurement will be taken. Experimental Group 1: Will receive only the manual treatment. Follow-up algometric measurements will be performed on the upper trapezius one week and two weeks after the intervention. Experimental Group 2: Will receive the same manual treatment followed by passive stretching of the upper trapezius. An algometric measurement will be conducted immediately after stretching, as well as follow-up assessments one week and two weeks later. Control Group: Will not receive any intervention but will undergo algometric assessments under the same conditions to enable comparisons with the experimental groups. Study Duration: The total estimated duration of the study is three weeks. Week 1: Intervention and pre-/post-treatment algometric assessments. Week 2: First follow-up algometric measurement. Week 3: Final algometric measurement.