Field and Home Exercise Program for Improving Function in Iraqi Rural Women

NCT07129356 | Completed DMC

• 2 other identifiers: College of Physical EducationThe corresponding Author
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 66
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study evaluates a 12-week Combined Rehabilitation Program (CRP) designed to reduce musculoskeletal pain and improve physical function among rural women in northern Iraq. The program integrates home-based therapeutic exercises with simple, culturally appropriate games. Sixty-six women from the Hamdaniya district, all with nearly two decades of experience in agricultural labor and chronic musculoskeletal pain in the back, neck, and limbs, participated voluntarily. The intervention includes two supervised group sessions per week at a local sports field and remote home-based sessions guided via pre-recorded videos shared through WhatsApp. Each session lasts 45 to 60 minutes and incorporates rest periods. The program is designed to strengthen weakened muscles, improve daily function, and promote social engagement among participants. Rural women engaged in long-term agricultural labor are at increased risk of chronic musculoskeletal pain, particularly in the back, neck, and limbs. What is already known on this subject:

• Rural women engaged in long-term agricultural labor are at increased risk of chronic musculoskeletal pain, particularly in the back, neck, and limbs.
• Home-based therapeutic exercises are widely used to manage pain and improve physical function.
• Community-based rehabilitation programs can support better health outcomes in underserved populations. What this study adds:
• Introduces a culturally adapted Combined Rehabilitation Program (CRP) that blends home-based exercises with traditional games in a rural Iraqi context.
• Explores the feasibility of delivering rehabilitation through low-cost mobile technology in resource-limited environments.
• Provides a community-based model for accessible, flexible rehabilitation tailored to the needs of rural women.

Conditions

Chronic Pain; Rural Health; Physical Therapy; Rehabilitation

Keywords

Muscle imbalance; Chronic musculoskeletal pain; Back pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in musculoskeletal pain level in the lower back, neck, upper extremities, and lower extremities.

  Pain levels will be self-reported using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS-11), a validated 11-point scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain). Participants will report pain in four body regions: lower back, neck, upper extremities, and lower extremities. The method of assessment was Numeric Rating Scale (NRS-11), administered in-person and via teleconsultation.

  Baseline and Week 12

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Change in flexibility.

  Baseline and Week 12

• Change in muscle strength in upper and lower extremities and trunk.

  Baseline and Week 12

Other Outcomes (2)

• Change in Body Weight

  Baseline and Week 12

• Change in body mass index (BMI).

  Baseline and Week 12

Study Arms (1)

Combined Rehabilitation Program (CRP) - Single Group

EXPERIMENTAL

This arm received a 12-week Combined Rehabilitation Program (CRP), consisting of both in-person field exercises and remote tele-exercises. The intervention included therapeutic exercises and culturally relevant physical games tailored to improve musculoskeletal function and reduce pain. Exercises were focused on mobility, strength, and flexibility, targeting areas of muscle weakness identified during baseline assessment.

Behavioral: Combined Exercise

Interventions

Combined Exercise BEHAVIORAL

Participants engaged in a hybrid exercise program that included: In-field sessions held twice weekly at a local sports facility (45-60 minutes per session, including rest). Remote sessions delivered via pre-recorded videos through WhatsApp, with ongoing monitoring and feedback. Exercises included walking, jogging, full-body stretching, and strength training targeting the trunk, limbs, and weak muscle groups (shoulders, back, knees). The program aimed to reduce joint and muscle pain, improve strength and flexibility, and support daily functional activities. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included muscle strength (via hand dynamometer), flexibility tests, BMI, and self-reported pain using the NRS-11 scale.

Combined Rehabilitation Program (CRP) - Single Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 57 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: The study involved only female gender (N=66) women
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Women have experienced Musculoskeletal pain in one or more one of fourth areas of study variables which are : the upper and lower extremities, neck, and lower back.

You may not qualify if:

• Women who suffer from other functional diseases not related to Musculoskeletal pain.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Mosul: lead

Study Sites (1)

College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences

Mosul, Nineveh Governorate, 00964, Iraq

Location

Related Publications (17)

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  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Chronic Pain; Back Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Study Officials

• Munib Fathe

  University of Mosul

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor Doctorate

Model Details: Design: Quasi-Experimental, One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 23, 2025
• First Posted: August 19, 2025
• Study Start: June 5, 2024
• Primary Completion: October 15, 2024
• Study Completion: November 7, 2024
• Last Updated: August 19, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, CSR, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: Data will be available beginning 6 months after publication and for up to 3 years. Requests will be reviewed by the study's data-sharing committee to ensure alignment with ethical standards and scientific merit.
• Access Criteria: Individual Participant Data (IPD) and related supporting documentation (such as the study protocol, statistical analysis plan, and informed consent form) will be made available to qualified researchers upon reasonable request. Access will be granted to researchers affiliated with academic institutions, non-profit organizations, or other recognized research bodies for the purpose of secondary analysis, meta-analysis, or other ethically approved scientific research. Requests for access should include a clear research proposal, objectives, and a data use agreement outlining how the data will be protected and used in compliance with applicable ethical and data protection standards. To request access, researchers may contact the corresponding author via the email address provided in the publication or through the institutional contact listed in the trial registration. Data will be shared in a de-identified format to ensure participant confidentiality.

Locations

IR (1)