This study compares two manual therapy techniques for treating tension neck syndrome: Graston Technique and Manual Soft Tissue Release. Tension neck syndrome causes neck pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion.

Participants will be assigned to receive either Graston Technique or Manual Soft Tissue Release for a set number of sessions. Researchers will measure changes in neck pain and range of motion before and after treatment to see which technique is more effective.

The purpose is to provide evidence on the best manual therapy approach for improving neck pain and movement in patients with tension neck syndrome.

Tension neck syndrome is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by neck pain, muscle tightness, and limited cervical range of motion. Manual therapy interventions such as Graston Technique and Manual Soft Tissue Release are widely used in physiotherapy practice, but direct comparative evidence between them is limited.

This interventional study aims to compare the effects of Graston Technique versus Manual Soft Tissue Release on pain intensity and cervical range of motion in patients diagnosed with tension neck syndrome.

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups. Group 1 will receive Graston Technique, and Group 2 will receive Manual Soft Tissue Release. Both interventions will be delivered by qualified physiotherapists according to a standardized protocol. Outcomes including pain, measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, and cervical range of motion, measured by goniometry, will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention.

The study will help determine which technique provides greater improvement in pain reduction and functional mobility, guiding clinical decision-making in the management of tension neck syndrome.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients aged 20-60 years.
2. Patients of both genders.
3. Patients with persistent neck pain.
4. Patients with neck pain absent of spondylosis, disk prolapse, or radiculopathy.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. The patients who did not want to participate
2. The patients who just had cervical spine surgery.
3. The patients who had recent cervical injury.
4. The patients who comes with tumor of the cervical spine.
5. The patients affected by neck dysfunction.
6. The patients with cervical disc herniation.
7. The patients who had difficulties in language.

Only IPD used in the results publication will be shared

It will be available after the completion of the study.

De-identified individual participant data and the study protocol will be made available to researchers whose proposed use of the data has been approved by the study team. Requests should be sent to the corresponding author via email. Data will be shared after execution of a data use agreement and for the purpose of meta-analysis or secondary research related to tension neck syndrome and manual therapy.