Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42696477›Full record

Trial reportPhysiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy2026

Adding Rib Mobilization to Diaphragm Release Techniques in Patients With Non-Specific Neck Pain: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Ahmed M Elfahl, Heba M Elfeky

Registry-linked trialAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07133646 (Adding Rib Mobilization to Diaphragm Release Techniques in Patients With Non-Specific Neck Pain), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

NCT07133646 nacompletednot on this map

Adding Rib Mobilization to Diaphragm Release Techniques in Patients With Non-Specific Neck Pain

TypeinterventionalSponsorMTI UniversityRan2025 to 2025Enrolled100ConditionsNeck PainArmsRib Mobilization Technique and Diaphragm Release Technique, Diaphragm Release Technique
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Ahmed M ElfahlPhysical Therapy Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5475-1676
Heba M ElfekyBasic Science Department, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4317-1312

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNon-specific neck pain (NSNP) is a frequent issue that can negatively affect both mobility and function. Recently, there has been growing interest in newer therapeutic approaches, including rib mobilization and diaphragm release techniques, as potential ways to address NSNP and support better outcomes for those affected. PURPOSE: To find out the immediate effects of how (DRT) combined with (RMT) affects the level of pain and the extent to which patients' functional abilities are improved in cases of NSNP.

methodsFor this prospective RCT, 96 participants aged 20 to 45 years were randomly assigned to one of three equal groups based on their pain score (VAS). Group B engaged in (DRT) for 40 minutes, three times weekly for 8 weeks, in contrast to Group A, which got both RMT combined with DRT. Group C (active control) received advice and some exercises. Measurements were collected before and after the intervention; the primary outcomes included pain severity, evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS); active neck range of motion (ROM), measured with a cervical range of motion (CROM) device; and neck flexion endurance. Additionally, the secondary outcome of neck-related disability was assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI).

resultsNo statistically significant difference was identified among the three groups at baseline; nevertheless, a treatment effect emerged after 8 weeks (p = 0.001 and f-value = 4.15, ƞ

conclusionThe addition of rib mobilization to diaphragm release techniques in patients with non-specific neck pain resulted in statistically significant improvements in pain intensity, cervical flexion, right lateral rotation, left lateral rotation, right rotation, and neck flexor endurance, with moderate to large effect sizes for pain reduction and cervical motion. However, no statistically significant differences were observed between groups for cervical extension, left rotation, or the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and only a marginal clinical improvement in NDI was noted in Group A. The observed benefits in the combined intervention group may not be attributable solely to rib mobilization. The increased treatment complexity and greater therapist interaction inherent in the combined approach could also have influenced the outcomes.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT07133646.

Indexed as

DiaphragmMusculoskeletal ManipulationsNeck PainRibsAdultDisability EvaluationExercise TherapyFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementProspective StudiesRange of Motion, ArticularTreatment OutcomeYoung Adultchronic paindiaphragm releasemanual therapynon‐specific neck painquality of liferib mobilization

Identifiers

PMID42696477
PMCPMC13544592

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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.