Effects of Instrument-assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) on Pain and Disability in Individuals With Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain.

INTRODUCTION: Cervical pain is a very common clinical condition in the world population, and can affect 70% of people at some point in life. Many of these conditions arise from musculoskeletal disorders, which may be caused by myofascial dysfunctions. Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) may be an important therapeutic tool as a means of treatment under these conditions. PURPOSE: To verify the effect of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) on pain, disability and range of motion (ROM) in individuals with non-specific chronic neck pain. DESIGN: Randomized Clinical Trial. METHODS: The sample will consist of 46 volunteers with non-specific chronic neck pain of both sexes, aged between 18 and 60 years, who presented pain for at least 12 weeks, without irradiation to the upper limbs distally to the shoulders. Of these, those that are not excluded, will be allocated randomly in one of the two groups present: Experimental Group (GE) - IASTM in the neck and Control Group (CG) - Manual myofascial release in the neck region. A blinded evaluator will be assigned to conduct the evaluation process for both groups. DESPECTS: The outcomes will be neck pain, neck disability and range of motion of the neck.