Investigation of the Efficacy of Thoracic Mobilization Exercises Performed in Addition to Core Stabilization Exercises in Individuals With Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain

NCT06991140 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 43834581758)
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 54
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints worldwide and is an important health problem that restricts the daily life activities of individuals. In particular, chronic non-specific neck pain (CNSNP) describes pain that persists for at least 12 weeks without an underlying specific pathological cause and affects a large segment of the population. CNSNP leads not only to pain but also to functional limitations, postural disorders and decreased quality of life. In recent years, exercise-based approaches, especially core stabilisation exercises, have become prominent in the treatment of CNSNP. Core stabilisation exercises aim to increase postural control, improve segmental stability and thus reduce pain by activating deep muscle groups around the spine. However, it has been reported that exercises targeting only local muscle groups may be insufficient to meet the high-level biomechanical and neuromuscular needs of the cervical spine. In this context, the effect of the mobility of the thoracic spine on neck function is noteworthy. Hypomobility in the thoracic region may contribute to pain and dysfunction by increasing the load on the cervical spine. Therefore, it is thought that adding thoracic mobilisation exercises to core stabilisation exercises may be more effective in improving neck pain and postural disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of adding thoracic mobilisation to a core stabilisation exercise programme in individuals with chronic non-specific neck pain.

Conditions

Neck Pain

Keywords

neck pain; mobilization

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pain Severity

  Visual Analogue Scale was used to determine severity of low back pain in the study participants. Visual Analogue Scale is a practical test with high validity and reliability in pain assessment. Visual Analogue Scale is an assessment method numbered from 0 to 10, where '0' indicates no pain and '10' indicates the presence of the most severe pain. Participants were asked to mark the degree of pain they had on this scale and recorded.

  6 week

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Disability

  6 week

• Cervical muscle strength

  6 week

• Spine Assessment

  6 week

Study Arms (2)

Control Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Core stabilisation exercises applied to both groups of the study were structured to target the activation of deep muscle groups supporting the stability of the cervical and thoracic spine. The exercise programme was performed 3 days a week for a total of 6 weeks under the supervision of a physiotherapist. The programme included exercises to improve head and neck control (chin tuck, head lift in supine position), exercises to improve scapular stability (scapular retraction, wall slide, serratus anterior activation) and exercises to improve trunk control in neutral spine position (arm and leg extension in four-point position, plank variations). The exercises were gradually made more difficult according to the tolerance of the individuals and each session lasted approximately 40-45 minutes. By ensuring that the exercises were performed in the correct form and in a controlled manner, overloading of the musculoskeletal system was prevented.

Other: Core Stabilization Exercises

Thorocal mobilization group

EXPERIMENTAL

Thoracic mobilisation exercises were performed 3 days a week for a total of 6 weeks under the supervision of a physiotherapist. Thoracic mobilisation programme consisted of active self-mobilisation techniques, mobilisation exercises with foam rollers, stretching exercises including thoracic rotation and extension movements and dynamic postural exercises. Especially 'thread the needle' exercise in sitting or quadruped position, 'thoracic extension press-up' in prone position and 'extension on foam rollers' were preferred to increase the mobility of thoracic vertebral segments. The exercises were gradually made more difficult according to the tolerance of the individuals. Each exercise was performed as 10-15 repetitions and 2-3 sets. Exercise safety was ensured by informing the patients about the correct posture and movement patterns before all applications. The main aim of the exercises was to alleviate the mechanical load of the cervicothoracic transition by reducing thoracic hypomobi

Other: Thorocal Mobilization Exercises; Other: Core Stabilization Exercises

Interventions

Thorocal Mobilization Exercises OTHER

Thoracic mobilisation exercises were performed 3 days a week for a total of 6 weeks under the supervision of a physiotherapist. Thoracic mobilisation programme consisted of active self-mobilisation techniques, mobilisation exercises with foam rollers, stretching exercises including thoracic rotation and extension movements and dynamic postural exercises. Especially 'thread the needle' exercise in sitting or quadruped position, 'thoracic extension press-up' in prone position and 'extension on foam rollers' were preferred to increase the mobility of thoracic vertebral segments. The exercises were gradually made more difficult according to the tolerance of the individuals. Each exercise was performed as 10-15 repetitions and 2-3 sets. Exercise safety was ensured by informing the patients about the correct posture and movement patterns before all applications.

Thorocal mobilization group

Core Stabilization Exercises OTHER

Core stabilization exercises were structured to target activation of deep muscle groups supporting cervical and thoracic spine stability. The exercise programme was performed 3 days a week for a total of 6 weeks under the supervision of a physiotherapist. The programme included exercises to improve head and neck control (chin tuck, head lift in supine position), exercises to improve scapular stability (scapular retraction, wall slide, serratus anterior activation) and exercises to improve trunk control in neutral spine position (arm and leg extension in four-point position, plank variations). The exercises were gradually made more difficult according to the tolerance of the individuals and each session lasted approximately 40-45 minutes. By ensuring that the exercises were performed in the correct form and in a controlled manner, overloading of the musculoskeletal system was prevented.

Control Group; Thorocal mobilization group

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• To be between the ages of 18-65,
• months of persistent neck pain,
• Being sedentary,
• Not being involved in any physiotherapy programme in the last 6 months

You may not qualify if:

• History of previous spinal surgery or trauma,
• Neurological deficit, vestibular pathology, neurological, cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal problems affecting physical performance, any pathology in the shoulder joint, any pathology in the jaw joint and pregnancy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi: lead

Study Sites (1)

Kırşehir Ahi Evran University

Kırşehir, Kırşehir, 40100, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neck Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Study Officials

• Mehmet CANLI, PhD.

  Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Lecturer

Model Details: randomized controlled trials

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 15, 2025
• First Posted: May 25, 2025
• Study Start: June 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: September 1, 2025
• Study Completion: September 1, 2025
• Last Updated: November 17, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)