Neck Exercises After Thyroid Surgery

NCT07415174 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 93
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Postoperative neck pain is common after thyroidectomy and may impair early recovery. This prospective randomized controlled study aimed to evaluate the effects of postoperative neck range-of-motion (ROM) and isometric strengthening exercises on neck pain and early-stage quality of life in patients undergoing thyroidectomy. Between November 2024 and April 2025, 93 patients who underwent thyroidectomy were enrolled. Surgical indications included multinodular goiter, Graves' disease, and fine-needle aspiration biopsy results classified as Bethesda categories III-VI. Patients were randomized into an intervention group (n = 48) and a control group (n = 45). Patients in the intervention group performed cervical ROM and isometric strengthening exercises from postoperative day 1 to day 10, while the control group received standard postoperative care without a structured exercise program. Both groups were evaluated on postoperative days 1 and 10. Pain severity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and quality of life was assessed using the Neck Pain, Discomfort, and Early-Stage Quality of Life Questionnaire (NPDEPQ).

Conditions

Thyroidectomy; Postoperative Neck Pain; Quality of Life (QOL); Cervical Range of Motion; Isometric Exercises

Keywords

thyroidectomy; postoperative neck pain; quality of life; cervical range of motion; isometric exercises

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Postoperative Neck Pain

  Postoperative neck pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), where scores range from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Assessments were performed on postoperative day 1 before discharge and on postoperative day 10 during follow-up by a blinded outcome assessor.

  Postoperative day 1 and postoperative day 10

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Neck Discomfort and Early-Stage Quality of Life

  Postoperative day 1 and postoperative day 10

Study Arms (2)

Postoperative Neck Exercise Program

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients received a structured postoperative neck range-of-motion and isometric strengthening exercise program in addition to standard postoperative care.

Other: Postoperative Neck Exercise Program

Standard Postoperative Care

NO INTERVENTION

Patients received standard postoperative care without a structured exercise program.

Interventions

Postoperative Neck Exercise Program OTHER

A structured postoperative program including neck range-of-motion and isometric strengthening exercises, initiated on postoperative day 1 and performed for 10 consecutive days, three times daily.

Postoperative Neck Exercise Program

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Adults aged 18 years or older
• Patients who underwent thyroidectomy for multinodular goiter, Graves' disease, or fine-needle aspiration biopsy results classified as Bethesda categories III, IV, V, or VI
• Ability to understand and comply with the study protocol
• Provision of written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Age younger than 18 years
• History of previous neck surgery
• Cervical disc herniation
• Parathyroidectomy
• Hashimoto's thyroiditis
• Refusal to provide written informed consent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Surgery

Istanbul, Istanbul, 34096, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Officials

• Mertcan Ak, MD

  Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Surgery

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

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

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 3, 2026
• First Posted: February 17, 2026
• Study Start: November 8, 2024
• Primary Completion: April 30, 2025
• Study Completion: April 30, 2025
• Last Updated: February 17, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)