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Background and Objectives: A high prevalence of non-specific neck or shoulder pain exists among university students. A few studies had been conducted in Malaysia to study the prevalence and possible risk factors associated with non-specific neck pain among college students. The purposes of this study were to study the prevalence, the anatomical locations and disability grading of myofascial trigger points in non-specific neck or shoulder pain among university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Subjects were selected according to the screening questionnaires. Eligible subjects were examined. Disability levels of the subjects were graded using Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). MTrPs palpations were done on 6 anatomical locations to locate MTrPs. Flat palpation technique and pincer palpation techniques were used. Results: Among 350 participants, 59.7% participants reported having neck or shoulder pain. Out of 208 participants, 51% participants were having MTrPs with non-specific neck or shoulder pain. In general, both left and right upper trapezius showed the highest percentage of MTrPs which are 94.79% (n=91) respectively, followed by right neck extensors72.97% (n=70) and both left and right levator scapulae63.54 %(n=61). According to disability grading of NDI and SPADI, most subjects showed low levels of associated disability. Conclusions: A high prevalence (51%) of MTrPs with non-specific neck or shoulder pain existed among university students. Upper trapezius, neck extensor and levator scapulae were found to be the muscles that prone to develop MTrPs. Majority of the participants (62.5%) fell under the category of mild disability.

Introduction: The core muscle plays a major role in providing stability. Several studies have been conducted to identify the activation of core muscle in variety of planking methods but the effects of modified planking in core strengthening program is vaguely studied. Aim: This study aimed to compare the modified plank with conventional plank and to identify which mode of planking was more superior in training for endurance and dynamic stability of core muscle. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test study design was conducted for a total duration of 6 weeks and 32 subjects were assigned into two groups: Experimental group (Body Saw Plank) and Control group (conventional plank). A pre-test and post-test of core endurance and dynamic stability were measured by using McGill Torso Muscular Endurance Test and Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT). A paired sample t-test was used to identify a significant difference between pre-test result and post-test result within the same group. Furthermore, an independent t-test was used to determine the significant difference between the post-test on the subject’s core endurance and dynamic stability between the control group and experimental group. Results: A total of 32 subjects were selected, with a mean age of 20.63±1.6, of which 14 were males and 18 were females, with mean height, mean weight and mean BMI were 164.70±7.74, 57.26±8.57 and 21.02±2.36 respectively. After 6 weeks of intervention, there was a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test of McGill Torso Muscular Endurance Test. However, comparison of post-test between groups of the McGill Torso Muscular Endurance Test shows no significant difference. On the other hand, both groups also show significant differences between the pre-test and post-test on SEBT. However, comparison between the post-test of the control group and experimental group has no significant differences in normalised reach distance and composite score. Conclusion: The findings proved that both body saw plank and conventional plank effectively enhances core muscle endurance and also dynamic stability equally.