Immediate effect of craniocervical flexion exercise and Mulligan mobilisation in patients with mechanical neck pain - A randomised clinical trial

Background: Mechanical neck pain (MNP) is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal pathologies in the present time. Physiotherapy management strategies comprising manual therapy and exercise therapy are routinely administered in patients with MNP. Objective: To compare the immediate effect of craniocervical flexion (CCF) exercise and Mulligan mobilisation on pain, active cervical range of motion (CROM) and CCF test performance in patients with MNP. Methods: This prospective, randomised, single-blinded study involved 26 patients with MNP (16 females; mean age; 31.12±8.40 years) randomised to a single session of active CCF exercise (3 sets of 10 repetitions) or Mulligan mobilisation (3 sets of 6-10 repetitions). Pain intensity was measured on a numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), active CROM was measured using CROM device, and CCF test performance with surface electromyography (EMG) from bilateral sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and anterior scalene (AS) muscles recorded pre- and immediately post-intervention by an assessor blinded to the treatment groups. Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyse between groups and Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to analyse within-group significance for pain and CROM, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel correlation test was used to analyse the CCF test performance on EMG from the bilateral SCM and AS muscles. Results: Comparison between pre- and post-intervention readings revealed statistically significant within-group (p<0.05) and no between-group significant difference for pain, ROM, and CCF test performance, indicating both interventions were equally effective. Conclusion: Patients with MNP who received active CCF exercise or Mulligan mobilisation exhibited similar reduction in pain intensity and increased CROM and CCF test performance post-intervention. Surprisingly, AS surface EMG amplitudes were increased post-intervention in both groups warranting further exploration of its role in neck pain.