Cervicogenic HeadacheNCT07574112
Muscle Energy Technique With And Without Myofascial Release in Patients With Cervicogenic Headache
A study testing Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and Myofascial Release (MFR) in people with Cervicogenic Headache, run by University of Lahore at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
This randomized controlled trial compared the effects of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) with and without Myofascial Release (MFR) in patients with cervicogenic headache. Forty participants aged 20-40 years were randomly assigned into two groups: MET only and MET combined with MFR. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 40 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Cervicogenic Headache
- What is being tested?
- Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and Myofascial Release (MFR)
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 25 Feb 2025to 15 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 40 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Participants aged 20 to 40 years
- Diagnosed with cervicogenic headache
- Both male and female participants
- Participants willing to participate in the study
Who cannot join
- History of cervical fracture or surgery
- Neurological disorders affecting the cervical region
- Severe cervical spine pathology
- Participants receiving other forms of manual therapy
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
This randomized controlled trial compared the effects of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) with and without Myofascial Release (MFR) in patients with cervicogenic headache. Forty participants aged 20-40 years were randomly assigned into two groups: MET only and MET combined with MFR. The intervention was delivered over five sessions across two weeks. Outcomes included pain intensity (VAS), cervical range of motion, and disability (Neck Disability Index), assessed at baseline and post-intervention. The study evaluated which intervention produced greater improvements in pain, function, and cervical mobility.
Read the detailed description
This randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare the effects of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) with and without Myofascial Release (MFR) in patients with cervicogenic headache. Cervicogenic headache is a secondary headache arising from dysfunctions of the cervical spine and associated muscular structures.
A total of 40 participants aged between 20 and 40 years were recruited and randomly allocated into two equal groups. Group A received Muscle Energy Technique alone, while Group B received a combination of Muscle Energy Technique and Myofascial Release. The intervention was delivered over five treatment sessions within a period of two weeks.
Outcome measures included pain intensity assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), cervical range of motion measured with a goniometer, and functional disability assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Assessments were performed at baseline and after completion of the intervention period.
The objective of the study was to determine whether the addition of Myofascial Release to Muscle Energy Technique provides superior improvements in pain reduction, cervical mobility, and functional disability compared to Muscle Energy Technique alone in patients with cervicogenic headache.
- Conditions
- Cervicogenic Headache
- Being tested
- Muscle Energy Technique (MET), Myofascial Release (MFR)
- Medical subject headings
- Post-Traumatic Headache
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Muscle Energy Technique (MET)Procedure or surgery
Also called Muscle Energy Technique
Muscle Energy Technique (MET) was applied to the cervical region muscles using isometric contractions followed by passive stretching. The technique was performed in a controlled manner to improve muscle flexibility, reduce pain, and enhance cervical mobility over five treatment sessions within two weeks.
Myofascial Release (MFR)Procedure or surgery
Sustained manual pressure applied to cervical and upper trapezius muscles to release fascial restrictions.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Muscle Energy Technique (MET) | Active comparator | Participants in this group received Muscle Energy Technique (MET) alone. The intervention was applied over five treatment sessions within two weeks. This group served as the comparison group to evaluate the effects of MET without Myofascial Release. Receives: Procedure: Muscle Energy Technique (MET) |
| Muscle Energy Technique (MET) + Myofascial Release (MFR) | Experimental | Participants in this group received a combination of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and Myofascial Release (MFR). The intervention was delivered over five treatment sessions within two weeks to evaluate its combined effect on pain, cervical range of motion, and disability. Receives: Procedure: Muscle Energy Technique (MET); Procedure: Myofascial Release (MFR) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pain Intensity (Viscual Analogue Scale)
Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The scale ranges from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates worst possible pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
Measured: Baseline and 2 weeks post-intervention
Secondary outcomes (2)
Cervical Range of Motion
Cervical range of motion was assessed using a goniometer to measure flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation of the cervical spine.
Measured: Baseline and 2 weeks post-intervention
Neck Disability Measured by Neck Disability Index (NDI)
Functional disability was assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). The scale ranges from 0 to 50, where higher scores indicate greater disability related to neck pain.
Measured: Baseline and 2 weeks post-intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 May 2026
- Study start25 Feb 2025
- Primary completion25 Nov 2025
- Study completion15 Dec 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Cervicogenic HeadacheStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of LahoreThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Model description
- This study used a parallel-group randomized controlled design. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups: one receiving Muscle Energy Technique (MET) alone and the other receiving a combination of Muscle Energy Technique and Myofascial Release (MFR). Both interventions were delivered over a fixed treatment period, and outcomes were compared between groups after completion of the intervention.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Lahore
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Zunaira Samreen, University of Lahore
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07574112
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- MS-UOL-2024-01
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 1 May 2026
- Last updated
- 12 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Samreen Z, Waseem I, Mustansar A. Muscle Energy Technique With and Without Myofascial Release in Patients with Cervicogenic Headache. Insights in Journal of Health Research. 2025. https://doi.org/10.71000/vy8k2r11
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 12 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Muscle Energy Technique With And Without Myofascial Release in Patients With Cervicogenic Headache
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07574112
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MS-UOL-2024-01
- Conditions
- Cervicogenic Headache
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of LahoreUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 25 Feb 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 25 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 15 Dec 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 7 May 2026 (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.
This randomized controlled trial compared the effects of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) with and without Myofascial Release (MFR) in patients with cervicogenic headache. Forty participants aged 20-40 years were randomly assigned into two groups: MET only and MET combined with MFR. The intervention was delivered over five sessions across two weeks. Outcomes included pain intensity (VAS), cervical range of motion, and disability (Neck Disability Index), assessed at baseline and post-intervention. The study evaluated which intervention produced greater improvements in pain, function, and cervical mobility.
Detailed description
This randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare the effects of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) with and without Myofascial Release (MFR) in patients with cervicogenic headache. Cervicogenic headache is a secondary headache arising from dysfunctions of the cervical spine and associated muscular structures.
A total of 40 participants aged between 20 and 40 years were recruited and randomly allocated into two equal groups. Group A received Muscle Energy Technique alone, while Group B received a combination of Muscle Energy Technique and Myofascial Release. The intervention was delivered over five treatment sessions within a period of two weeks.
Outcome measures included pain intensity assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), cervical range of motion measured with a goniometer, and functional disability assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Assessments were performed at baseline and after completion of the intervention period.
The objective of the study was to determine whether the addition of Myofascial Release to Muscle Energy Technique provides superior improvements in pain reduction, cervical mobility, and functional disability compared to Muscle Energy Technique alone in patients with cervicogenic headache.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- This study used a parallel-group randomized controlled design. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups: one receiving Muscle Energy Technique (MET) alone and the other receiving a combination of Muscle Energy Technique and Myofascial Release (MFR). Both interventions were delivered over a fixed treatment period, and outcomes were compared between groups after completion of the intervention.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Muscle Energy Technique (MET) | Active comparator | Procedure: Muscle Energy Technique (MET)Participants in this group received Muscle Energy Technique (MET) alone. The intervention was applied over five treatment sessions within two weeks. This group served as the comparison group to evaluate the effects of MET without Myofascial Release. |
| Muscle Energy Technique (MET) + Myofascial Release (MFR) | Experimental | Procedure: Muscle Energy Technique (MET), Procedure: Myofascial Release (MFR)Participants in this group received a combination of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and Myofascial Release (MFR). The intervention was delivered over five treatment sessions within two weeks to evaluate its combined effect on pain, cervical range of motion, and disability. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Participants aged 20 to 40 years
- Diagnosed with cervicogenic headache
- Both male and female participants
- Participants willing to participate in the study
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- History of cervical fracture or surgery
- Neurological disorders affecting the cervical region
- Severe cervical spine pathology
- Participants receiving other forms of manual therapy
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Muscle Energy Technique (MET)Also: Muscle Energy TechniqueMuscle Energy Technique (MET) was applied to the cervical region muscles using isometric contractions followed by passive stretching. The technique was performed in a controlled manner to improve muscle flexibility, reduce pain, and enhance cervical mobility over five treatment sessions within two weeks. | Procedure or surgery | Muscle Energy Technique (MET), Muscle Energy Technique (MET) + Myofascial Release (MFR) |
| Myofascial Release (MFR)Sustained manual pressure applied to cervical and upper trapezius muscles to release fascial restrictions. | Procedure or surgery | Muscle Energy Technique (MET) + Myofascial Release (MFR) |
Primary outcome
Pain Intensity (Viscual Analogue Scale)
Time frame: Baseline and 2 weeks post-intervention
Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The scale ranges from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates worst possible pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
2 secondary outcomes
Cervical Range of Motion
Time frame: Baseline and 2 weeks post-intervention
Neck Disability Measured by Neck Disability Index (NDI)
Time frame: Baseline and 2 weeks post-intervention
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 12 May 2026.
- Results publicationSamreen Z, Waseem I, Mustansar A. Muscle Energy Technique With and Without Myofascial Release in Patients with Cervicogenic Headache. Insights in Journal of Health Research. 2025. https://doi.org/10.71000/vy8k2r11
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Cervicogenic Headache
Not yet recruiting
Trigger Point Injection and Myofascial Release for Cervicogenic Headache
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Comparative Effects of Dynamic Cupping and Facilitated Positional Release in Cervicogenic Headache
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The Role Of Fascia And Breathing Exercises In The Treatment Of Cervicogenic Headache
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Clinical Study of Myofascial Trigger Points(MTrPs) Injection in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis(OA)
Myofascial Trigger Points, Migraine
Recruiting
Comparative Effects of Post Isometric Relaxation and Reciprocal Inhibition in Individuals With Cervicogenic Headache.
Post Traumatic Headache, Cervicogenic Headache
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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and Myofascial Release (MFR) in people with Cervicogenic Headache, run by University of Lahore at 1 site in Pakistan.
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 4 inclusion and 4 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 12 May 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 Pakistan. 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?
Pain Intensity (Viscual Analogue Scale) (time frame: Baseline and 2 weeks post-intervention). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07574112, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 12 May 2026.