EFFECT OF INSTRUMENT ASSISTED SOFT TISSUE MOBILIZATION ON NON SPECIFIC NECK PAIN

Background: Neck pain has been identified as one of the most common and debilitating musculoskeletal conditions. Non-specific neck pain are unrelated simple cases without any pathological origin. There are various non-drug-based interventions proven to work. This study has been chosen to assess the effectiveness of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization for non-specific neck pain. Methods: This was a randomised controlled trial that included 30 people with nonspecific neck pain. Participants were randomly assigned to Group A and Group B. There were 15 people in each. Group A was treated with instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) in conjunction with standard therapy. Group B received no additional treatment apart from the standard therapy. Interventions took 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Pre- and post intervention assessments of pain intensity and functional impairment were based on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Neck Disability Index (NDI), respectively. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements from baseline to four weeks (p < 0.05) in VAS and NDI scores. However, unpaired t-test analysis revealed that the group receiving IASTM plus standard therapy exhibited greater gains compared to the standard therapy group alone. Conclusion: Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization offers a viable option for managing nonspecific neck pain, reducing discomfort, and enhancing functional outcomes. Keywords: Non-specific neck pain; instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization; Neck Disability Index; Visual Analogue Scale.