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CTRI Number  CTRI/2026/02/103357 [Registered on: 09/02/2026] Trial Registered Prospectively
Last Modified On: 07/02/2026
Post Graduate Thesis  Yes 
Type of Trial  Interventional 
Type of Study   Physiotherapy (Not Including YOGA) 
Study Design  Randomized, Parallel Group Trial 
Public Title of Study   A study comparing two physiotherapy treatment approaches for people with neck and postural problems. 
Scientific Title of Study   Comparison of Effectiveness of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) versus Muscle Energy Technique (MET) on Pain, Posture and Cervical Range of Motion in Individuals with Upper Cross Syndrome 
Trial Acronym  Nil 
Secondary IDs if Any  
Secondary ID  Identifier 
NIL  NIL 
 
Details of Principal Investigator or overall Trial Coordinator (multi-center study)  
Name  Payal Bidhuri 
Designation  Postgraduate Student 
Affiliation  Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies 
Address  QG-08, Q block, Out Patient Department, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Sector-43, Faridabad-121004, Haryana, India

Faridabad
HARYANA
121004
India 
Phone  9643884765  
Fax    
Email  bidhuripayal2@gmail.com  
 
Details of Contact Person
Scientific Query  
Name  Dr Sumit Arora 
Designation  Associate Professor 
Affiliation  Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies  
Address  QG-08, Q block, Out Patient Department, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Sector-43, Faridabad-121004, Haryana, India

Faridabad
HARYANA
121004
India 
Phone  9968975791  
Fax    
Email  Sumit.sports@mriu.edu.in  
 
Details of Contact Person
Public Query  
Name  Payal Bidhuri 
Designation  Postgraduate Student 
Affiliation  Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies  
Address  QG-08, Q block, Out Patient Department, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Sector-43, Faridabad-121004, Haryana, India

Faridabad
HARYANA
121004
India 
Phone  9643884765  
Fax    
Email  bidhuripayal2@gmail.com  
 
Source of Monetary or Material Support  
Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Sector-43, Faridabad-121004, Haryana, India. 
 
Primary Sponsor  
Name  Payal Bidhuri 
Address  Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Sector-43, Faridabad-121004, Haryana, India 
Type of Sponsor  Other [Self] 
 
Details of Secondary Sponsor  
Name  Address 
NIL  NIL 
 
Countries of Recruitment     India  
Sites of Study  
No of Sites = 1  
Name of Principal Investigator  Name of Site  Site Address  Phone/Fax/Email 
Dr Payal bidhuri  Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies  QG-08, Q block, Out Patient Department, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, MRIIRS, Faridabad
Faridabad
HARYANA 		 9643884765

bidhuripayal2@gmail.com 
 
Details of Ethics Committee  
No of Ethics Committees= 1  
Name of Committee  Approval Status 
Departmental Ethical Committee (DEC), Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies (MRIIRS)  Approved 
 
Regulatory Clearance Status from DCGI  
Status 
Not Applicable 
 
Health Condition / Problems Studied  
Health Type  Condition 
Patients  (1) ICD-10 Condition: M628||Other specified disorders of muscle,  
 
Intervention / Comparator Agent  
Type  Name  Details 
Intervention  Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization  Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization will be administered by a trained physiotherapist to participants with Upper Cross Syndrome. Treatment will be applied to shortened and tight muscles including upper trapezius, levator scapulae, pectoralis major and minor, and cervical extensor muscles using appropriate IASTM tools. Each session will last for 15 minutes. Intervention will be given three sessions per week for a total duration of four weeks, along with conventional postural correction exercises. 
Comparator Agent  Muscle Energy Technique  Muscle Energy Technique will be administered by a trained physiotherapist to participants with Upper Cross Syndrome. MET will be applied to tight muscles including upper trapezius, levator scapulae, pectoralis major and minor, and cervical extensor muscles using isometric contractions followed by stretching. Each session will last for 15 minutes. Intervention will be given three sessions per week for a total duration of four weeks, along with conventional postural correction exercises. 
 
Inclusion Criteria  
Age From  18.00 Year(s)
Age To  30.00 Year(s)
Gender  Both 
Details  Clinical diagnosis of Upper Crossed Syndrome patients were done using a validated UCS assessment tool
Both Male and Female
Aged 18-30 years old
Presence of neck pain VAS equal to or greater than 3 
 
ExclusionCriteria 
Details  History of cervical spine trauma, fracture, or surgery.
Neurological disorders (cervical radiculopathy, myelopathy).
Systemic conditions (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis).
Skin lesions, open wounds, or contraindications to manual therapy.
Contraindications to IASTM like active infections, cancer, bleeding disorders. 
 
Method of Generating Random Sequence   Other 
Method of Concealment   Case Record Numbers 
Blinding/Masking   Open Label 
Primary Outcome  
Outcome  TimePoints 
pain
posture
cervical range of motion 		 all primary outcome measures will be assessed at baseline (pre intervention) and after 4 weeks (post-intervention) 
 
Secondary Outcome  
Outcome  TimePoints 
NIL  NIL 
 
Target Sample Size   Total Sample Size="40"
Sample Size from India="40" 
Final Enrollment numbers achieved (Total)= "Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials"
Final Enrollment numbers achieved (India)="Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials" 
Phase of Trial   N/A 
Date of First Enrollment (India)   18/02/2026 
Date of Study Completion (India) Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials 
Date of First Enrollment (Global)  Date Missing 
Date of Study Completion (Global) Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials 
Estimated Duration of Trial   Years="0"
Months="6"
Days="0" 
Recruitment Status of Trial (Global)   Not Applicable 
Recruitment Status of Trial (India)  Not Yet Recruiting 
Publication Details   N/A 
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement

Will individual participant data (IPD) be shared publicly (including data dictionaries)?  

Response - NO
Brief Summary  
Upper Crossed Syndrome (UCS) is a common postural disorder characterized by muscle imbalance, forward head posture, rounded shoulders, neck pain, and reduced cervical range of motion, especially among young adults with prolonged sedentary habits and excessive screen use. Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilisation (IASTM) and Muscle Energy Technique (MET) are commonly used physiotherapy interventions for managing UCS; however, evidence comparing their relative effectiveness is limited.

This quasi-experimental study aims to compare the effectiveness of IASTM versus MET on pain, posture, and cervical range of motion in individuals with Upper Crossed Syndrome. A total of 40 participants aged 18–30 years with clinically diagnosed UCS will be recruited and allocated into two groups. Group A will receive routine physiotherapy along with IASTM, while Group B will receive routine physiotherapy along with MET. Both interventions will be administered three times per week for four weeks.

Outcome measures including pain (Visual Analogue Scale), posture (craniovertebral angle), and cervical range of motion (goniometry) will be assessed at baseline and after the intervention period. The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence-based guidance for physiotherapists in selecting the most effective manual therapy technique for improving pain, posture, and cervical mobility in individuals with Upper Crossed Syndrome.
 
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