Optimising Therapeutic Benefits: Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition Technique for Enhanced Balance and Alleviation of Pain Intensity in Individuals with Chronic Neck Pain

  • Madan Kusum Student, Department of Physiotherapy, Gurugram University, Gurugram, Haryana, India
  • Bharti Sharma Assistant Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, Gurugram University, Gurugram, Haryana, India.
  • Harsirjan Kaur Assistant Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, Gurugram University, Gurugram, Haryana, India.
  • Charu Chhabra Assistant Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi.
Keywords: Balance, Chronic Neck Pain, Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition Technique

Abstract

Background: Chronic neck pain is one of the diseases amongst other reported musculoskeletal diseases prevalent in the population. Suboccipital muscle inhibition is one of the manual techniques used to reduce the myofascial restriction in the muscles of the occiput region, by activation of the autonomic nervous system (parasympathetic system) and raises the amount of endorphins, which lessens the pain sensitivity, and relation of the myodural bridge which connects the rectus capitis posterior minor muscle to dura which affects balance ability.
Aim: The aim of the study was to optimise therapeutic benefits using the suboccipital muscle inhibition technique for enhanced balance and alleviation of pain intensity in individuals with chronic neck pain.
Materials and Method: Based on convenient sampling 30 subjects having neck pain were selected who fulfilled the selection criteria. Pre-test and post-test data were collected. Intervention in the manner of suboccipital inhibition was given to subjects for 8 min. The outcome measures used were balance and pain. The significance level was established at 0.05. Paired t-test was employed to measure the significance of the difference in pre-test and post-test scores of balance and pain. All data were processed using Statistical Package for Social Science 27.
Result: The comparison of the mean difference of pre-test and post-test scores of balance (tandem stance-1.36 and single leg stance -1.80) and pain (-1.67) showed the effectiveness of the technique (p value < 0.001).
Conclusion: The suboccipital muscle inhibition technique was impactful in balance enhancement and reducing pain intensity in individuals with chronic neck pain.

How to cite this article:
Kusum M, Bharti S, Kaur H, Chhabra C. Optimising Therapeutic Benefits: Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition Technique for Enhanced Balance and Alleviation of Pain Intensity in Individuals with Chronic Neck Pain. Chettinad Health City Med J. 2024;13(1):81-86.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2278.2044.202414

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Published
2024-03-30