Adding Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization to Core Stability Training in Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain

All participants in both groups (A and B) received conventional physiotherapy program including infrared thermotherapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, stretching exercises for for Upper Trapezius, Levator Scapulae, Sternocleidomastoid and Scalenes muscles, and active neck ROM exercises, 3 sessions per week, for 4 weeks.

All participants in both groups (A and B) received core stability exercises in the form of bridging exercise, bridging exercise on a ball, plank, and side plank 3 sessions per week, for 4 weeks.

Each participant in group (B) was seated in a comfortable position. The participant's forehead rested on his/her forearm on a table in front of him/her. A lubricant (Vaseline) was applied to the skin around the neck area prior to treatment, and the M2T blade (Figure 4) was cleaned with an alcohol pad. First, the M2T blade was used to find the exact areas of restriction in the RT upper trapezius. Then, the M2T blade was used at an angle of 45°, utilizing treatment planes 1, 2, and 3, to apply slow strokes along the muscle, without causing any discomfort or pain, from the muscle origin to its insertion for approximately 3 minutes. This procedure was repeated twice a week, for 4 weeks.