Effects of Dry Needling versus Muscle Energy Technique Among Individuals with Neck Pain

Background: Neck pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder and a major cause of global disability, often occurring alongside low back pain. It commonly affects the cervical and shoulder regions, leading to reduced function and impaired work performance. Clinically, it is categorized as mechanical or traumatic, with mechanical neck pain being more frequently encountered in physiotherapy practice. Objective: To evaluate and compare the therapeutic effects of dry needling and muscle energy technique in individuals presenting with neck pain. Methodology: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in the physiotherapy department of a tertiary care hospital. Sixty patients with mechanical neck pain were recruited through non-probability sampling and equally assigned to two groups. Patients aged between 18 and 50 years, presenting with mechanical neck pain persisting for more than four weeks, and reduced cervical range of motion and muscle tightness were recruited. Participants were excluded if they had a history of cervical trauma, radiculopathy, neurological impairment, systemic illness, or prior cervical spine surgery, and pregnancy. Group A received dry needling, whereas Group B was treated with the muscle energy technique. Pain intensity and functional disability were assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale and Neck Disability Index at baseline and post-intervention. Within-group changes were examined using paired sample t-tests, whereas independent sample t-tests were used for intergroup comparisons. Results: All participants completed the study. Both groups showed significant improvements in Numeric Pain Rating Scale and Neck Disability Index scores (p<0.001), with no gender-based differences (p=0.865). Intergroup analysis favoured one intervention (p<0.001), with dry needling showing greater improvements in pain and function than the muscle energy technique. Conclusion: Both dry needling and muscle energy technique were effective in reducing pain and disability associated with mechanical neck pain. Dry needling showed better short-term effects and may be considered a more effective adjunct within physiotherapy management strategies.