Muscle Energy Technique in the Rehabilitative Treatment for Acute and Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain: A Systematic Review.

Francesco Agostini,Raoul Saggini,Teresa Paolucci,Chiara La Russa,Marco Paoloni,Silvia Sbardella,Andrea Bernetti,Valter Santilli,Andrea Guarnera,Letizia Pezzi,Massimiliano Mangone

doi:10.3390/healthcare9060746

Abstract

Background: Non-specific neck pain (NNP) affects 30–50% of the general population, and it often leads to severe disability. Several manual therapy techniques are available to reduce pain and disability and to improve cervical range of motion and functional activities. Muscle Energy Technique (MET) showed more evidence for treating such a disorder. The aim of this current scientific literature analysis was to compare the clinical effects of MET with the other manual or rehabilitative treatments for non-specific acute and chronic neck pain. Methods: The literature search was conducted using the following databases: PubMed, Medline, PEDro, Cochrane Database, and Google Scholar from 2010 to January 2020. Clinical trials about MET were included. The quality of the trials was assessed according to the PEDro scale. Results: Twenty-one papers according to inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected: 15 studies about non-specific acute neck pain and 6 studies about non-specific chronic neck pain. Conclusions: This analysis suggests that the MET approach has a good clinical effect on reducing neck pain in patients with acute neck pain and improves cervical range of motion in patients with chronic neck pain, and is better if combined with a traditional rehabilitative approach. This review’s findings should be considered with caution for physiotherapy practice because of the studies’ methodologic limitations. On the basis of the current available and limited evidence, clinicians could combine MET with traditional physiotherapy and other manual techniques when treating people with non-specific neck pain.

Highlights

Non-specific neck pain (NNP) is a symptom related to postural or mechanical cause [1,2]
ischemic compression (IC) and Muscle Energy Technique (MET) was more effective for improving range of motion and for reducing neck pain (p value = 0.000)
For the second question: “Is MET combined with conventional therapy effective in the treatment of pain, disability and restoration of joint function in acute and chronic non-specific neck pain compared to conventional therapy alone or to the latter combined with another method?”, with regard to patients with neck pain in the acute phase and in the chronic phase, MET is very effective in improving health outcomes such as pain, disability and joint function

Summary

Introduction

Non-specific neck pain (NNP) is a symptom related to postural or mechanical cause [1,2]. MET is a ‘hands-on’ therapy to induce muscle stretching, strengthening and relaxing It is a rehabilitative therapeutic option for non-specific neck pain with the aim to restore normal joint mobility and reduce pain [31]. Muscle Energy Technique (MET) showed more evidence for treating such a disorder The aim of this current scientific literature analysis was to compare the clinical effects of MET with the other manual or rehabilitative treatments for non-specific acute and chronic neck pain. On the basis of the current available and limited evidence, clinicians could combine MET with traditional physiotherapy and other manual techniques when treating people with non-specific neck pain

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion