Muscle Energy Technique Versus Mulligan Technique for Treating Neck Pain in Breast Feeding Women

Muscle Energy Technique Versus Mulligan Technique for Treating Neck Pain in Breast Feeding Women

The purpose of this study will determine the effect of muscle energy technique versus mulligan technique on neck pain in breastfeeding women.

Conservative treatments used to manage neck pain are numerous and include usual medical care ( face to face interview, education, reassurance, medication, ergonomic and stay active advice), various forms of exercise, massage, and acupuncture among others, but a lack of evidence regarding their relative efficacy was found.

More research is needed to determine specific exercise programs that can decrease neck pain in breastfeeding women. So, this study will be conducted to determine clinical evidence of the effectiveness of muscle energy technique versus mulligan technique on neck pain, which constituted a great problem facing the mother during the breastfeeding period.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients will be examined by a physician before the study and will be chosen according to the following criteria:
• All patients will be in the breastfeeding period at least 6 weeks after delivery.
• All patients will be clinically diagnosed with neck pain (with no neurological or rheumatological problem).
• Their ages will range from 25-35years.
• Their BMI will be less than 30 kg/m².
• Their parity will not be more than 3 times.

Exclusion Criteria:

• The patients will be excluded if they have any of the followings:

  1. Any contraindication to spinal mobilization (e.g., inflammation, infection, advanced degeneration, congenital malformation, trauma, cerebrovascular abnormalities).
  2. Positive neurological examination (presence of positive motor reflex, or sensory abnormalities indicating spinal root compression).
  3. Cervical spine surgery or stenosis, metabolic or systemic disorder, or cancer.
  4. Associated pathology of the upper cervical region or upper limb that may cause overlapping with the clinical finding as referred pain from the costotransverse joint, rotator cuff tendonitis, and cervical rib syndrome.