Immediate Effects of Muscle Tension and Pain to Myofascial Release and Duoball Assisted Self-Relaxation Techniques in Patients Experiencing Chronic Cervical Pain

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of the myofascial release (MFR)and Duoball-assisted self-relaxation (DASR) techniques on pain and muscle tension in patients with chronic cervical pain. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Eighteen patients with chronic neck pain who met the selection criteria were randomly assigned to either the MFR or DASR groups. Results: In the assessment of muscle tension, the frequency results revealed a 10% reduction in the suboccipital muscle, SCM, Pect m, UT, and LS in both the MFR and DASR groups, whereas the stiffness results indicated a decrease in all muscles except the upper trapezius in both groups. All parameters were decreased by approximately 10% in the suboccipital muscle, SCM, Pect m, UT, and LS, and the decrement results indicated an increase of approximately 15% in the suboccipital muscle, SCM, Pect m, UT, and LS in both the MFR and DASR groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Application of MFR and DASR techniques was effective for alleviating pain and muscle tension in patients experiencing chronic neck pain. MFR is a non-pharmacological intervention with few potential side effects and is considered a universal and easily applicable treatment method.