Mulligan vs Maitland With Home-Based Exercise for Non-Specific Neck Pain

Non-specific neck pain (NSNP) is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition with multiple contributing factors. The aim of this clinical study is to investigate the short-term effects of Mulligan in comparison to Maitland mobilization techniques in conjunction with a home-based therapeutic exercise program. 43 adults with non-specific neck pain will be randomly divided into three groups of 14,14 and 15 participants each. In the participants of the first group, a therapeutic protocol of Mulligan mobilizations in the cervical region will be applied and a protocol of exercises will be performed. To the participants of the second group, a therapeutic protocol od Maitland mobilizations in the cervical region will be applied and the same exercise program with the first group will be performed. The third group participants will perform only the same exercise protocol as the other groups. The first two groups will receive four mobilization treatments over two weeks. All three groups will perform the home-based exercise protocol daily for two weeks. Pain in the last 24 hours with the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) in the cervical region with an algometer, functional ability with the Neck Disability Index (NDI), Range of Motion (ROM) with a digital goniometer, pain catastrophizing with the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and kinesiophobia with the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) will be evaluated before and after the intervention. For the statistical analysis of the results, a two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) will be applied using SPSS program, while the statistical significance index will be set at p \< .05.