Mechanical Neck PainNCT07164963
Upper Cervical Mobilization vs. Sub-Occipital MET for Neck Pain and FHP
A study testing upper cervical translatoric mobilisation, sub occipital muscle energy technique and traditional physical therapy in people with Mechanical Neck Pain and Forward Head Posture, run by MTI University at 1 site in Egypt.
Trial summary
forty-five patients with MNP and FHP age from 25-40 years will be randomly assigned into three groups: Group A (study): 15patients will receive (upper cervical translatoric mobilization) and traditional physical therapy, Group B (study): 15patients received sub occipital muscle energy technique and traditional… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 60 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Mechanical Neck Pain, Forward Head Posture
- What is being tested?
- upper cervical translatoric mobilisation, sub occipital muscle energy technique and traditional physical therapy
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 45 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEgypt
- Study dates
- 12 Sep 2025to 1 Dec 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 20 to 60 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- patients aged from 20-60 Years
- suffering from M echanical neck pain with Craniovertebral angle ; < 53
- their NDI ranging from 30-48% [9]. Patients were excluded from the study if they have injury or trauma to cervical region, spinal surgery, cervical canal stenosis, radicular pain and malignancy.
Who cannot join
- Patients were excluded from the study if they have injury or trauma to cervical region, spinal surgery, cervical canal stenosis, radicular pain and malignancy.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Upper Cervical Translatoric Mobilization Versus Sub Occipital Muscle Energy Technique in Patients With Mechanical Neck Pain and Forward Head Posture
forty-five patients with MNP and FHP age from 25-40 years will be randomly assigned into three groups: Group A (study): 15patients will receive (upper cervical translatoric mobilization) and traditional physical therapy, Group B (study): 15patients received sub occipital muscle energy technique and traditional physical therapy, and Group C (control): 15 patients will receive the traditional physical therapy treatment only . Interventions will be conducted three times a week for four weeks. Craniovertebral angle (CVA) using Photographic Posture Analysis Method (surgimap software), pain intensity using viual analogue scale (VAS), Cervical ROM using CROM device, and neck functional ability using Neck Disability Index (NDI) will be assessed for all participants before and after the treatment program.
Read the detailed description
This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the efficacy of Upper Cervical Translatoric Mobilization (UC-TSM) and Sub-Occipital Muscle Energy Technique (MET) in patients with Mechanical Neck Pain (MNP) and Forward Head Posture (FHP). Forty-five participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: Group A (UC-TSM + conventional physical therapy), Group B (Sub-Occipital MET + conventional physical therapy), and Group C (conventional physical therapy only). Interventions will be administered three times per week for four weeks. Outcomes include pain intensity (VAS), neck disability (NDI), cervical range of motion (CROM), and craniovertebral angle (CVA) assessed via photographic analysis (Surgimap). The study will be conducted at Benha University.
- Conditions
- Mechanical Neck Pain, Forward Head Posture
- Being tested
- upper cervical translatoric mobilisation, sub occipital muscle energy technique, traditional physical therapy
- Keywords
- Mechanical Neck Pain, Forward Head Posture, Upper Cervical Mobilization, Muscle Energy Technique, Craniovertebral Angle, Neck Disability Index
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
upper cervical translatoric mobilisationOther
(UC-TSM) is defined as a system of manual techniques using straight-line forces delivered in a parallel or perpendicular direction to an individual vertebral joint or motion segment there is also increasing in body of evidence supporting the its clinical effectiveness and safety in the management of patients with cervical impairments.
sub occipital muscle energy techniqueOther
Muscle Energy Technique (MET) is another form of a gentle manual therapy intervention that primarily targets the soft tissues, though it also contributes significantly to joint mobilization. It has been reported that, adding MET to exercise program resulted in better improvement in CVA and FHP than exercise group only
traditional physical therapyOther
hot pack and kendel exercise
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Cervical Translatoric Mobilization | Experimental | Participants will receive Upper Cervical Translatoric Mobilization (UC-TSM) applied to the upper cervical spine (C0-C2), in addition to conventional physical therapy (hot pack and Kendall exercises), three times per week for 4 weeks. Receives: Other: upper cervical translatoric mobilisation |
| Sub-Occipital Muscle Energy Technique | Experimental | Participants will receive Sub-Occipital Muscle Energy Technique (MET) targeting the sub-occipital muscles, in addition to conventional physical therapy (hot pack and Kendall exercises), three times per week for 4 weeks. Receives: Other: sub occipital muscle energy technique |
| traditional physical therapy | Active comparator | Participants will receive conventional physical therapy only, including application of a hot pack for 15 minutes followed by Kendall exercises for postural correction, three times per week for 4 weeks. Receives: Other: traditional physical therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for Pain Intensity
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 10-cm line where 0 = "no pain" and 10 = "worst pain imaginable". A lower score indicates improvement.
Measured: Baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment
Secondary outcomes (2)
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for Pain Intensity
Functional disability will be assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), a 10-item questionnaire scored from 0 to 50, where higher scores indicate greater disability.
Measured: Baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment
Craniovertebral Angle (CVA) via Photographic Posture Analysis
The craniovertebral angle (CVA) will be measured using lateral-view photography and analyzed using Surgimap software. A higher CVA indicates improvement in forward head posture.
Measured: baseline and after 4 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Sep 2025
- Study start12 Sep 2025
- Primary completion15 Oct 2025
- Study completion1 Dec 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Mechanical Neck PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- MTI University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, reda abd elrazik, Benha University
- Investigators
- reda K. Abdelrazik, associate professor, Principal investigator, Benha University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07164963
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- PT.BU.EC.22
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 31 Aug 2025
- Last updated
- 5 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Upper Cervical Translatoric Mobilization Versus Sub Occipital Muscle Energy Technique in Patients With Mechanical Neck Pain and Forward Head Posture
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07164963
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PT.BU.EC.22
- Conditions
- Mechanical Neck Pain, Forward Head Posture
- Keywords
- Mechanical Neck Pain, Forward Head Posture, Upper Cervical Mobilization, Muscle Energy Technique, Craniovertebral Angle, Neck Disability Index
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- MTI UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 12 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Dec 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 10 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
forty-five patients with MNP and FHP age from 25-40 years will be randomly assigned into three groups: Group A (study): 15patients will receive (upper cervical translatoric mobilization) and traditional physical therapy, Group B (study): 15patients received sub occipital muscle energy technique and traditional physical therapy, and Group C (control): 15 patients will receive the traditional physical therapy treatment only . Interventions will be conducted three times a week for four weeks. Craniovertebral angle (CVA) using Photographic Posture Analysis Method (surgimap software), pain intensity using viual analogue scale (VAS), Cervical ROM using CROM device, and neck functional ability using Neck Disability Index (NDI) will be assessed for all participants before and after the treatment program.
Detailed description
This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the efficacy of Upper Cervical Translatoric Mobilization (UC-TSM) and Sub-Occipital Muscle Energy Technique (MET) in patients with Mechanical Neck Pain (MNP) and Forward Head Posture (FHP). Forty-five participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: Group A (UC-TSM + conventional physical therapy), Group B (Sub-Occipital MET + conventional physical therapy), and Group C (conventional physical therapy only). Interventions will be administered three times per week for four weeks. Outcomes include pain intensity (VAS), neck disability (NDI), cervical range of motion (CROM), and craniovertebral angle (CVA) assessed via photographic analysis (Surgimap). The study will be conducted at Benha University.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Cervical Translatoric Mobilization | Experimental | Other: upper cervical translatoric mobilisationParticipants will receive Upper Cervical Translatoric Mobilization (UC-TSM) applied to the upper cervical spine (C0-C2), in addition to conventional physical therapy (hot pack and Kendall exercises), three times per week for 4 weeks. |
| Sub-Occipital Muscle Energy Technique | Experimental | Other: sub occipital muscle energy techniqueParticipants will receive Sub-Occipital Muscle Energy Technique (MET) targeting the sub-occipital muscles, in addition to conventional physical therapy (hot pack and Kendall exercises), three times per week for 4 weeks. |
| traditional physical therapy | Active comparator | Other: traditional physical therapyParticipants will receive conventional physical therapy only, including application of a hot pack for 15 minutes followed by Kendall exercises for postural correction, three times per week for 4 weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- patients aged from 20-60 Years
- suffering from M echanical neck pain with Craniovertebral angle ; < 53
- their NDI ranging from 30-48% [9]. Patients were excluded from the study if they have injury or trauma to cervical region, spinal surgery, cervical canal stenosis, radicular pain and malignancy.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Patients were excluded from the study if they have injury or trauma to cervical region, spinal surgery, cervical canal stenosis, radicular pain and malignancy.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| upper cervical translatoric mobilisation(UC-TSM) is defined as a system of manual techniques using straight-line forces delivered in a parallel or perpendicular direction to an individual vertebral joint or motion segment there is also increasing in body of evidence supporting the its clinical effectiveness and safety in the management of patients with cervical impairments. | Other | Upper Cervical Translatoric Mobilization |
| sub occipital muscle energy techniqueMuscle Energy Technique (MET) is another form of a gentle manual therapy intervention that primarily targets the soft tissues, though it also contributes significantly to joint mobilization. It has been reported that, adding MET to exercise program resulted in better improvement in CVA and FHP than exercise group only | Other | Sub-Occipital Muscle Energy Technique |
| traditional physical therapyhot pack and kendel exercise | Other | traditional physical therapy |
Primary outcome
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for Pain Intensity
Time frame: Baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 10-cm line where 0 = "no pain" and 10 = "worst pain imaginable". A lower score indicates improvement.
2 secondary outcomes
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for Pain Intensity
Time frame: Baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment
Craniovertebral Angle (CVA) via Photographic Posture Analysis
Time frame: baseline and after 4 weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Jan 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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The Association Between Smartphone Overuse and Mechanical Neck Pain Among Galala University Students
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
reda K. Abdelrazik, associate professor principal investigator
Benha University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing upper cervical translatoric mobilisation, sub occipital muscle energy technique and traditional physical therapy in people with Mechanical Neck Pain and Forward Head Posture, run by MTI University at 1 site in Egypt.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Egypt. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for Pain Intensity (time frame: Baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Jan 2026.