Comparative Effects of Elongation Longitudinal Décoaptation Ostéo-Articulaire (ELDOA) Versus Manual Myofascial Release Therapy on Mechanical Neck Pain Related to Poor Posture

Abstract

Background: Mechanical neck pain is prevalent among university students due to prolonged poor posture and sedentary behavior, causing discomfort and functional limitations without underlying pathology. Elongation Longitudinal Décoaptation Ostéo-Articulaire (ELDOA) and manual myofascial release therapy have both shown efficacy in managing musculoskeletal pain, yet few studies have compared their effectiveness in treating posture-related neck pain. Objective: To compare the effects of ELDOA and manual myofascial release therapy on pain intensity and functional disability in university students with mechanical neck pain caused by poor posture. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted at Government College University Faisalabad with 30 participants aged 18–30 years diagnosed with mechanical neck pain. Subjects were randomly assigned to ELDOA or manual myofascial release groups, each receiving interventions thrice weekly for four weeks. Pain intensity was measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), and disability was assessed via the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22, with effect sizes calculated using Cohen’s d. Results: Both groups showed significant reductions in NPRS and NDI scores post-intervention (p<0.001). ELDOA demonstrated numerically greater reductions, though between-group differences were not statistically significant. Effect sizes ranged from moderate to very large. Conclusion: ELDOA and manual myofascial release therapy are both effective in reducing mechanical neck pain and disability, with ELDOA showing slightly greater improvements. Larger studies are warranted to confirm these findings.