What is the hold/relax time for decreasing muscle spasm in the cervical spine?

The hold/relax technique, often used in physical therapy and manual therapy to reduce muscle spasms and improve flexibility, generally follows a protocol where the muscle is held in a lengthened position for a specific duration, followed by a period of relaxation. For the cervical spine specifically, the common practice is to utilize a hold of 5 seconds followed by 5 seconds of relaxation. This approach allows for an effective cycle of activation and relaxation, helping to alleviate muscle tension while also promoting neuromuscular control and flexibility in the targeted area.

Longer hold/relax durations can be employed in other contexts for different types of interventions, but for addressing acute muscle spasms in the cervical region, the 5/5 protocol is most appropriate. As a result, this duration is widely adopted as a practical standard in clinical settings.