Effects of Diaphragmatic Resistance Training in People With Chronic Neck Pain.

NCT05529641 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: NCKU-DRT-2022
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 71
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

With increasing usage of electronic devices and sedentary lifestyle, chronic neck pain has become a more prevalent musculoskeletal disorder around the world. Many impairments have been identified in people with chronic neck pain including pain, muscle weakness, proprioceptive deficits and altered breathing pattern. Diaphragm is the key muscle for inspiration and also plays an important role in spinal stability. Previous studies have found that diaphragm functions are related to the stability of the lumbar spine through the fascial, neural and visceral systems. Diaphragmatic resistance training thus could have some positive effects on reducing pain and disability in people with low back pain. However, to date how diaphragmatic resistance training would affect chronic neck pain is still unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of diaphragmatic resistance training on pain, disability and movement quality in people with chronic neck pain.

Conditions

Neck Pain; Diaphragm; Exercise Training; Inhalation

Keywords

Chronic neck pain; Kinematics; Diaphragm; Diaphragmatic resistance training; Stabilization exercise

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Pain intensity using Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

  Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a self-reported scale, provides 100 mm line that participants will mark the maximal and averaged pain intensity within past 7 days. The length of the line that participants marked would be the intensity of pain. The minimal value will be 0 mm and maximal value will be 100 mm. The longer the length indicates the higher intensity of pain.

  Changes from baseline to 6 weeks when participants finish the intervention.

• Disability using Neck Disability Index (NDI)

  Neck Disability Index (NDI), a self-reported scale, contains 10 sessions of question to evaluating how severe that functional activity level was affected by neck pain. Each session scores ranging from 0 to 5. Total score range from 0 to 50. The higher the score indicates more disability level.

  Changes from baseline to 6 weeks when participants finish the intervention.

• Cervical kinematics

  Using optical motion analysis system to assess cervical kinematics for movement quality.

  Changes from baseline to 6 weeks when participants finish the intervention.

• Muscle activation

  Using surface electromyogram to assess muscle activation pattern.

  Changes from baseline to 6 weeks when participants finish the intervention.

Study Arms (2)

Combined diaphragmatic resistance training and cervical stabilization exercise group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive supervised cervical stabilization exercise and diaphragmatic resistance training as home grogram.

Other: Diaphragmatic resistance training; Other: Cervical stabilization exercise

Cervical stabilization exercise group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this group will only receive supervised cervical stabilization exercise.

Other: Cervical stabilization exercise

Interventions

Diaphragmatic resistance training OTHER

6 weeks home exercise of diaphragmatic resistance training will be emphasized.

Combined diaphragmatic resistance training and cervical stabilization exercise group

Cervical stabilization exercise OTHER

Participants will finish 6 weeks supervised cervical stabilization exercise in person by physical therapist. Dissociated movement and movement control will be emphasized during cervical stabilization exercise.

Cervical stabilization exercise group; Combined diaphragmatic resistance training and cervical stabilization exercise group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Pain between nuchal line to T1 spinous process lasting over 3 months.

You may not qualify if:

• First onset acute neck pain.
• Surgery history.
• Neurological symptoms.
• Respiratory, psychiatric and neuromuscular disorders.
• Smoking, pregnant, cancer.
• Severe anemia or diabetes.
• Core exercise in past 12 months.
• Spine or chest deformity.
• Body mass index (BMI) \> 30 kg/m/m.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Cheng Kung University: lead
• Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Department of Physical Therapy, National Cheng Kung University

Tainan, 701, Taiwan

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neck Pain; Respiratory Aspiration

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Respiration Disorders; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Pathologic Processes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 2, 2022
• First Posted: September 7, 2022
• Study Start: December 9, 2022
• Primary Completion: May 31, 2025
• Study Completion: August 31, 2025
• Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Locations

TW (1)