Effect of Alexander Technique on Neck Pain and Quality of Life in Lactating Women

Обзор

This study will be conducted to investigate the effect of the Alexander technique on neck pain and quality of life in lactating women.

Подробное описание

During breastfeeding, incorrect positioning and placement of hands to support the baby's weight can irritate the musculature of the hands. Repeating the same position frequently can lead to radiating pain in the elbows and hands. Additionally, adopting different postures to compensate for the pain while sitting, standing, or lying down can cause mechanical changes in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, altering the body's correct posture.

The Alexander Technique is a non-exercise approach focused on improving the modulation of postural muscle activity. It offers an individualized approach to developing skills that help people recognize, understand, and avoid poor habits that affect postural tone and neuromuscular coordination. Its lessons are associated with clinically relevant long-term reductions in neck pain and disability.

Some previous studies examined effect of Alexander technique on neck pain and on quality of life in different population, but in our knowledge this is the first study will be conducted to investigate effect of Alexander technique on neck pain and quality of life in lactating women, so this study will be conducted to provide an insight about the beneficial effect of the Alexander Technique on neck pain and quality of life in lactating women which will be of valuable benefits in the women's health field.

Вмешательства

• Другое Conventional therapy
  All participants in the two groups will receive conventional therapy in the form of TENS and moist heat for 5 weeks.TENS will be applied 5 times a week for 5 weeks at a frequency of 80Hz with 10- to 30-mA intensity for 25 minutes. Four surface electrodes (5x5 cm each) were situated over the painful region in the neck (two electrodes will be placed in either side of the spine high on neck, just underneath the skull and the other two electrodes will be placed about 5cm underneath them) with intens
• Другое Alexander technique
  Women in the experimental group will attend 10 Alexander Technique classes (60 minutes each, twice a week for 5 weeks). The Alexander Technique focuses on body awareness, reducing muscle tension, and improving coordination through three principles: enhanced awareness, purposeful inhibition, and mental imagery. Participants will learn to release habitual muscle tension and explore alternative movement patterns, covering biomechanics and ergonomics of the neck, spine, and limbs. The sessions invol

Первичные конечные точки

• Assessment of neck pain intensity [Срок оценки: 5 weeks]
• Quality Of Life assessment [Срок оценки: 5 weeks]

Вторичные конечные точки (5)

• Measurement of neck flexion range of motion (ROM) [Срок оценки: 5 weeks]
• Measurement of neck extension range of motion (ROM) [Срок оценки: 5 weeks]
• Measurement of neck lateral flexion range of motion (ROM) [Срок оценки: 5 weeks]
• Measurement of neck rotation range of motion (ROM) [Срок оценки: 5 weeks]
• Assessment of neck function [Срок оценки: 5 weeks]

Критерии участия

Критерии включения

• Lactating females experiencing neck pain (six weeks to 1year postpartum).
• Able to understand and follow the Alexander Technique instructions.
• Their age will be ranged from 20-35 years old.
• Their BMI will be less than 30 kg/m2 .
• Their pain level is ≥ 4 on numeric pain rating scale.
• They have mild disability on Neck Disability Index Questionnaire (NDI).
• They have limited cervical range of motion (the normal flexion range of motion is 80° to 90°, extension 70°, lateral flexion 20° to 45°, and rotation up to 90°).

Критерии исключения

• Neck pain as consequence of disc protrusion or prolapse, whiplash, congenital deformity of the spine, spinal stenosis, neoplasm, inflammatory rheumatic disease, neurological disorder, and psychosis.
• Women who had invasive treatment of the spine within the previous three weeks, or spinal surgery or presence of neck history of trauma.
• Presence of contraindications to spinal movement, such as fracture or dislocation.

Критерии приведены из реестра в оригинале (на английском). Окончательную оценку соответствия проводит исследовательский центр.

Здоровые добровольцы: Нет

Дизайн исследования

Распределение

Рандомизированное

Модель

Параллельные группы

Маскирование

Простое слепое

Основная цель

Лечение

Центры проведения

Египет · 1 центр

• Faculty of physical therapy, Cairo University — Giza

Идентификаторы

NCT: NCT06646367 · P.T.REC/012/005325

Первоисточники (государственные реестры)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (NIH, США)

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