Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33612123›Full record

Trial reportBMC musculoskeletal disorders2021

Combining targeted instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization applications and neuromuscular exercises can correct forward head posture and improve the functionality of patients with mechanical neck pain: a randomized control study.

Konstantinos Mylonas, Pavlos Angelopoulos, Evdokia Billis, Elias Tsepis, Konstantinos Fousekis

Erratum issued 5 registry-linked trialsOpen access · goldAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. It is linked to 5 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 15 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
15citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
4.7field-weighted citation impact, top 5% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05878600 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2022, after this paper: background citation

Targeted Cervical Spine Strengthening Exercises Versus Kendall Exercises in Patients With Forward Head Posture.

TypeinterventionalSponsorRiphah International UniversityRan2022 to 2023Enrolled38ConditionsForward Head PostureArmskendall's exercise, cervical spine strengthening
NCT06108882 naunknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Effects of Manual Ischemic Compression With and Without Strain Counter Strain Technique on Sternocleidomastoid Tightness With Forward Head Posture

TypeinterventionalSponsorRiphah International UniversityRan2023 to 2024Enrolled42ConditionsNeck PainArmsExperimental: Manual Ischemic Compression with Strain Counter Strain technique, Active Comparator: Manual Ischemic Compression
NCT06407700 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Comparative Effects of Brugger's Exercise With and Without Kendall Exercises on Pain, Craniovertebral Angle and Range of Motion in Patients With Sterno-Symphyseal Syndrome

TypeinterventionalSponsorRiphah International UniversityRan2024 to 2024Enrolled32ConditionsUpper Crossed SyndromeArmsBrugger's exercise., Kendall Exercise.
NCT07169084 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Comparison of Different Rehabilitation Approaches in Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorAtlas UniversityRan2025 to 2025Enrolled24ConditionsNeck Pain MusculoskeletalArmsManual Therapy, Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)
NCT07716137 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Effects of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization on Sensory Motor Mismatch in Text Neck Syndrome.

TypeinterventionalSponsorRiphah International UniversityRan2026 to 2026Enrolled66ConditionsText Neck SyndromeArmsIASTM + Conventional Physiotherapy, Conventional Physiotherapy (Exercise-based) (control group)
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

15 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 31 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Massage for neck pain.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2024
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Konstantinos MylonasHuman Evaluation and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Physical Therapy Department, School of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Patras, Psaron 6, 25100, Egio, Greece.
Pavlos AngelopoulosHuman Evaluation and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Physical Therapy Department, School of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Patras, Psaron 6, 25100, Egio, Greece.
Evdokia BillisHuman Evaluation and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Physical Therapy Department, School of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Patras, Psaron 6, 25100, Egio, Greece.
Elias TsepisHuman Evaluation and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Physical Therapy Department, School of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Patras, Psaron 6, 25100, Egio, Greece.
Konstantinos FousekisHuman Evaluation and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Physical Therapy Department, School of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Patras, Psaron 6, 25100, Egio, Greece. kfousekis@upatras.gr.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1451-6529
University of Patras · GR

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the short- and intermediate-term effects of the combined application of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) techniques and neuromuscular exercises of the cervical and thoracic area on the improvement of the functionality of patients with mechanical neck pain and accompanying forward head posture (FHP).

methodsTwenty patients with neck pain and FHP were randomized and received eight treatment sessions of either targeted IASTM in combination with neuromuscular exercises (Group A) or a classical massage and the same set of exercises (Group B). The cervical vertebral angle (CVA), cervical range of motion (ROM) and strength, pain (visual analogue scale-VAS), and neck disability index (NDI) were measured throughout the treatment period and in the two- and four-week post-treatment periods.

resultsThe combined application of IASTM and neuromuscular exercises contributed to a significantly greater improvement in CVA (Group A: + 7,2 deg vs Group B: + 1,1 deg) and NDI (Group A:-25,2 vs Group B:-5,8) than massage and the application of the same exercises. Both interventions improved cervical ROM and strength in the short term. Pain was also significantly improved in both groups in both the short (Group A VAS: - 5,97 vs Group B VAS: - 3,1) and intermediate term (Group A VAS:-5,5 vs Group B:-1,5).

conclusionsCombining IASTM and exercises for the cervical and thoracic area can induce positive postural adaptations and improve the functional status of neck pain patients.

trial registrationISRCTN, ISRCTN54231174 . Registered 19 March 2020 - Retrospectively registered.

Indexed as

NeckNeck PainHeadHumansMassagePostureForward head postureIASTMNeck pain

Identifiers

PMID33612123
PMCPMC7898422
OpenAlexW3126062737

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.