Additional Effect of Pectorals, Upper Trapezius and Levator Scapulae Muscle Release in Reducing Neck Pain Among Office Workers: A Single Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions among office workers. Physiotherapy interventions to date have focused on the neck musculature, such as the UT muscles. To date, there is a lack of evidence that the combination of anterior and posterior musculature release, such as the UT, LS, and pectorals, reduces neck pain in office workers. A single-session, participant-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted.  A single-session, participant-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted. An a priori power analysis established a target of  60 participants to ensure a balanced 1:1 block design with mixed block sizes of 2 and 4. Following the exclusion of 3 prospective candidates during screening, 57 participants were enrolled and allocated via SNOSE to maintain strict allocation concealment. This resulted in a final distribution of an intervention group (n = 28) and a control group (n = 29). Both cohorts received conventional physiotherapy consisting of manual therapy, mobility exercises, and strengthening exercises, while the intervention group received additional targeted muscle release. Pre- and post-treatment metrics for pain and CROM were gathered. Due to extensive violations of data normality confirmed by Shapiro-Wilk testing, within-group changes were analysed using Wilcoxon Signed-Rank tests, and between-group treatment efficacy was evaluated using Mann-Whitney U tests. Both groups demonstrated highly significant within-group reductions in pain and increases in CROM from pre- to post-treatment. However, between-group comparisons verified that the intervention group achieved statistically superior immediate pain relief. The intervention group demonstrated significantly greater tracking improvements across four out of the six measured CROM directions compared to the control track, successfully validating the study's primary alternative hypotheses. Incorporating targeted manual muscle release of the pectorals, UT, and LS alongside conventional multimodal physiotherapy significantly enhances immediate clinical outcomes for occupational neck pain management. This targeted combination provides a crucial clinical boost, rapidly alleviating pain and restoring multi-directional cervical mobility within a single therapeutic session.