Muscle energy technique to reduce pain and disability in cases of non-specific neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

BackgroundTo investigate the effectiveness of muscle energy technique (MET) for treatment of non-specific neck pain (NSNP). MethodsA literature search was performed using electronic databases from their inception until October 2023 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effects of MET on NSNP. A change in pain intensity and reduced disability were the primary and secondary outcomes, respectively, standardized using Hedges’ g. A random effects model was used for data pooling. ResultsThis study included 26 RCTs comprising 1170 participants. The results showed that MET significantly reduced pain intensity (Hedges' g = −0.967 95 % CI = −1.417 to −0.517, p < 0.001). However, subgroup analysis revealed that this significant benefit was observed only when MET was combined with other treatments and not with MET monotherapy. MET also reduced disability (Hedges’ g = −0.545, 95 % CI = −1.015 to − 0.076, p = 0.023). Meta-regression analysis showed that an increase in treatment duration/session per week contributed to greater pain reduction. No adverse events were reported following the MET. ConclusionsIn conclusion, our meta-analysis suggests MET's potential effectiveness within a combined treatment for NSNP. However, the evidence's low certainty is likely influenced by bias and study variations. To strengthen these findings, future research should focus on higher-quality clinical trials, longer follow-up periods, and prediction interval presentations.