The Effectiveness of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) Exercises Compared to Localized Exercises and Standard Care on Pain Intensity, Neck Dysfunction, and Upper Cervical Range of Motion in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

NCT07395011 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: WiSo_BA_PTB_WiSe25-26_1_1
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 45
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Many people experience long-lasting neck pain, which can affect daily life, work, and overall well-being. This study aims to find out which type of exercise program is most effective in reducing neck pain, improving neck movement, and making daily activities easier. What Is Being Studied?: The study compares three different types of treatment: DNS Exercises (Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization): Whole-body exercises focusing on posture, breathing, and core stability. Localized Neck Exercises: Targeted exercises for the neck and shoulder muscles. Standard Care: Usual physiotherapy treatment commonly provided in clinical practice. Study Procedures: Participants are randomly assigned to one of the three groups. Each participant receives individual exercise instruction from a physiotherapist. Participants are also given simple home exercises to perform on their own. The study lasts for about 12 weeks. What Will Be Measured?: At the beginning, during, and at the end of the study, the following will be assessed: Neck pain intensity (pain scale) Neck range of motion How much the pain affects daily life and activities Possible Benefits: Participants may experience: Less neck pain Improved neck mobility Better overall body awareness Even if not every participant notices improvement, taking part will help researchers improve future treatment options for chronic neck pain. Risks: No major risks are expected. All exercises are supervised by qualified physiotherapists and adjusted to each participant's abilities. Participation can be stopped at any time if discomfort or pain occurs. Voluntary Participation and Data Privacy: Participation is completely voluntary. All personal data will be kept confidential and analyzed anonymously for research purposes only. Participants may withdraw from the study at any time without any disadvantages.

Conditions

Neck Pain; Neck Pain Musculoskeletal; Chronic Neck Pain; Neck Disease; Neck Disability

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Numeric Ratic Scale

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Neck Disability Index

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

• Flexio Rotation Test

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

• Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

Study Arms (3)

DNS_Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Other: Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) Exercises

Local_Exercise

EXPERIMENTAL

Other: Local Exercises

Usual_Care

EXPERIMENTAL

Other: Usual Care

Interventions

Local Exercises OTHER

Localized neck exercises target deep and superficial cervical muscles through specific strengthening, motor control, and stabilization drills. The program includes chin tucks, resisted movements, and scapular stabilization, supervised by a physiotherapist to improve pain, function, and coordination.

Local_Exercise

Usual Care OTHER

Usual care includes standard physiotherapy for chronic neck pain: patient education, manual therapy, heat application, and general stretching or mobility exercises. Treatment follows typical clinical practice and is adjusted to individual needs.

Usual_Care

Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) Exercises OTHER

Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) is a physiotherapy approach based on developmental kinesiology. It uses specific postural and breathing exercises to restore spinal stability, improve motor control, and enhance cervical function under physiotherapist supervision.

DNS_Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• between 18 and 50 years of age. This ensures a homogeneous population that in-cludes both young adults and middle-aged individuals.
• have suffered from neck pain continuously for at least 12 weeks, as described by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)
• have current neck pain greater than 40 on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) (on a scale of 0 to 100).
• have an NDI score of over 10 points.

You may not qualify if:

• Cancer
• Patients with existing or previous fractures in the cervical spine
• Patients who have undergone surgery on the cervical spine
• Patients who, in addition to neck pain, also have or have had dizziness or balance disorders
• People with osteoporosis
• Fibromyalgia
• People with diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis
• People with red flags identified during a thorough physical examination
• Patients with neurological deficits identified during a thorough physical examination
• Participants who have undergone physiotherapy within the last 3 months.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hochschule Osnabruck: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neck Pain

Interventions

Exercise

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

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: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 31, 2026
• First Posted: February 9, 2026
• Study Start: February 2, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Last Updated: February 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01