EFFICACY OF SUBOCCIPITAL AND STERNOCLEIDOMASTOID RELEASE TECHNIQUE IN FORWARD HEAD POSTURE PATIENTS WITH NECK PAIN: A RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL

Abstract

Background: Neck pain in forward head posture has a high prevalence. Suboccipital and SCM release technique has been reported effective in releasing shortened muscles, but no evidence is reported of its effectiveness in neck pain patients with or without forward head posture (FHP). This study is undertaken to find out if suboccipital and SCM myofascial release (MFR) have any effect in neck pain and FHP.

Methods: Study design, A Randomized control trial 60 subjects between age 20-30 having FHP and neck pain were randomly divided into 2 groups Experimental group (n=30), control group (n=30), number of male patients (n=10) and female (n= 43), Intervention given for experimental group was MFR for suboccipital and SCM muscle and control received resisted chin tucks, Neck isometrics, Scapular sets, Hot packs, ergonomic advice (2 weeks/ 3 sessions). Outcome measures were the Craniovertebral angle (CVA), shoulder angle, NPRS, NDI, Cervical ROM assessed at baseline, post-treatment, 3rd and 4th week follow up.

Results: The repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant group by time interaction for changes in CVA angle (p<0.01), shoulder angle (p > 0.005), NPRS(p<0.01), NDI(p<0.01), Cervical ROM (p<0.01), in both the experimental and control group.

Conclusion: This study concludes that Myofascial release for suboccipitals and Sternocleidomastoid is more effective than conventional therapy in improving Forward head posture and reducing neck pain.