Comparison of effectiveness of muscle energy technique with Mulligan mobilization in patients with non-specific neck pain.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of muscle energy technique with Mulligan mobilisation in patients having non-specific neck pain. METHODS: The quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Physiotherapy Department of Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from March to September 2017, and comprised patients of either gender having non-specific neck pain who ere divided into two groups. In group 1 patients, muscle energy technique was used, while group 2 patients had Mulligan mobilisation. Pain intensity, functional status of neck and cervical range of motion were measured before and after treatment. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. RESULTS: Of the 56 patients, 28(50%) were in each of the two groups. The overall mean age was 36.89±9.28 years. Pain intensity, functional status and neck extension range of motion improved significantly more in group 2 (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Mulligan mobilisation was found to be a better option in managing patients with non-specific neck pain.

Comparative evaluation of trace metals in the blood of hepatitis C patients and healthy donors.

Hepatitis C is one of the common types of chronic liver disease, and its plausible association with trace metal imbalance has been investigated in the present study. The blood samples of hepatitis C patients and healthy donors were analysed for trace metals (Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb, and Zn) by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry after wet acid digestion. In the blood of the hepatitis patients, mean concentrations of essential metals, Na, K, Fe, Ca, Mg, and Zn, were 918.7, 361.0, 102.5, 20.00, 24.66, and 9.429 ppm, respectively, while the mean metal levels in the blood of healthy donors were 1509, 406.8, 232.5, 28.35, 24.59, and 8.799 ppm, respectively. On the average, Cr was significantly higher, while Na, Fe, Ca, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Cd were comparatively lower in the blood of the patients. The correlation study manifested significantly divergent mutual relationships of trace metals in the blood of the patients and healthy donors. Multivariate statistical methods revealed considerably diverse distribution of trace metals in the two groups. Dissimilarity in the trace metal distribution was also noted with the gender and residential location of the donors in both groups.