Effects of Scapulothoracic Stabilization Exercises on Pain and Neck Function in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain

NCT05777434 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: FUI/CTR/2023/6
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Neck pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder, involving discomfort and pain around the neck region, which results in limited neck function. Due to chronic neck pain, patient's neck function, cervical proprioception, ROM and cervical muscle strength is affected. Exercise is considered as one of the evidence-based modality to decrease pain, prevent further injury, increase muscle strength, endurance and flexibility, improve proprioception, and contribute and sustain normal life activities. In addition, recent studies suggest that exercises including not only neck but also scapulothoracic region might be more beneficial for the management of patients with chronic neck pain.Scapulothoracic stabilization exercises in addition to cervical stabilization exercises have the potential of improving this cervical sensorimotor control, however evidence is deficient Hence, this study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of adding scapula-thoracic stabilization training to conventional physical therapy on pain and neck function in the patients with chronic neck pain.

Conditions

Neck Pain

Keywords

Chronic pain, proprioception, range of motion

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Pain intensity

  Pain will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

  4 weeks

• Neck Function

  Neck function of patients will be assessed using Neck Disability Index. A higher score indicates more disability

  4 Weeks

• Cervical Proprioception

  : Cervical Proprioception of patients will be assessed using Cervical Joint Position Error Test. Reposition accuracy error will be determined in Lateral flexion and rotation (right \& left). A higher repositioning error indicates poor joint position sense or proprioception.

  4 Weeks

• Cervical Range of Motion

  Cervical Proprioception of patients will be measured using inclinometer. Flexion, extension and lateral flexion will be measured.

  4 Weeks

• Deep Cervical Flexor Strength

  Deep Cervical flexor strength of patients will be measured using CranioCervical Flexion Test in crook-lying position.

  4 Weeks

Study Arms (2)

Group A (Conventional Physical Therapy)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Patients in this group will recieve conventional physical therapy including hot pack and TENS for pain relief, axial elongtion exercises to correct posture, cervical isometrics and cervical stabilization exercises (cervical bracing with deep neck flexor activation followed by extremity ROM) along with general flexibility exercises. Each exercise would be performed with a hold time of 5-10 sec and 8-12 reps. A total of 12 sessions would be conducted over a period of 4 weeks.

Procedure: Conventional Physical Therapy for Chronic Neck Pain

Group B (Scapulothoracic Stabilization Exercises)

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients will recieve scapulothoracic stabilization exercises in addition to the convential physical therapy including hot pack, TENS, axial elongation, cervical isometrics and cervical stabilization exercises. SSE would include scapular adduction and shoulder external rotation, B/L shoulder extension with scapular retraction, Eccentric scapular retraction, Brügger exercise and Forward punch. Exercises would be given using latex Thera-Band, or acc. to patient strength for mild to moderate resistance. Each exercise would be performed with a hold time of 5-10 sec and 8-12 reps. A total of 12 sessions would be conducted over a period of 4 weeks.

Procedure: Conventional Physical Therapy for Chronic Neck Pain; Procedure: Scapulothoracic Stabilization Exercises

Interventions

Conventional Physical Therapy for Chronic Neck Pain PROCEDURE

Conventional physical therapy for Chronic Neck Pain will include hot pack and TENS for pain relief, axial elongtion exercises to correct posture, cervical isometrics and cervical stabilization exercises. After 2 weeks, functional training will be added. Sets and repetitions will be increased progressively.

Group A (Conventional Physical Therapy); Group B (Scapulothoracic Stabilization Exercises)

Scapulothoracic Stabilization Exercises PROCEDURE

• Scapulothoracic stabilization exercises in addition to conventional physical therapy will include scapular adduction and shoulder external rotation, B/L shoulder extension with scapular retraction, Eccentric scapular retraction, Brügger exercise and Forward punch. Exercises would be given using latex Thera-Band, or acc. to patient strength for mild to moderate resistance. After 2 weeks, functional training will be added. Sets aand repetitions will be increased progressively.

Group B (Scapulothoracic Stabilization Exercises)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Patients with Chronic neck pain greather than 3 months
• Adults aged 18-45 years
• Both Male and Female
• Subjects with non-specific neck pain without specific identifiable etiology (infection, inflammatory disease etc)

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with history of previous neck/ shoulder surgery
• History of cervical spine injury or surgery
• History of any psychological disorder.
• Pregnant females.
• Patient suffering from neck pain secondary to other conditions (neoplasm,neurological or vascular disease)
• Patient experiencing neck pain due to other causes such as tumors, fractures, radiculopathy etc.
• Patients who have received physiotherapy for neck pain from last 1 month

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Foundation University Islamabad: lead

Study Sites (1)

Foundation University Islamabad

Islamabad, Federal, 46000, Pakistan

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neck Pain; Chronic Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Manahil Shahid

  FUI

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Manahil Shahid, MS-MSKPT*

CONTACT

+923334031991; awanmanahil146@gmail.com

Zara Khalid, PhD*

CONTACT

+923335415822; zara.khalid@fui.edu.pk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: This is a randomized controlled trial having two groups. One group will receive conventional physical therapy along with cervical stabilization exercises and the second will receive Scapulothoracic Stabilization Exercises in addition to Cervical Stabilization Exercises with conventional physical therapy. Both groups will be recruited concurrently.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 9, 2023
• First Posted: March 21, 2023
• Study Start: January 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: June 15, 2023
• Study Completion: July 1, 2023
• Last Updated: March 21, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-03

Locations

PA (1)