Scapular Muscle Strengthening Combined With Core Stabilization Exercises in Telephone Operators With Neck Pain

NCT07480772 | Not Yet Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: Umama Jabbar
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 90
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Scapular muscle strengthening combined with core stabilization exercises is an effective intervention for reducing neck pain in telephone operators. Prolonged sitting, forward head posture, and repetitive upper-limb use in this population often lead to scapular dyskinesis and poor trunk control, increasing cervical spine stress. Strengthening the scapular stabilizers (such as the middle and lower trapezius and serratus anterior) improves shoulder girdle alignment and reduces overload on cervical muscles. When combined with core stabilization exercises, which enhance trunk stability and postural control, overall biomechanical efficiency is improved. This combined approach has been shown to decrease pain intensity, improve neck function, enhance posture, and reduce work-related musculoskeletal strain in telephone operators with neck pain.

Conditions

Work-related Neck Pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Neck Pain

  Neck disability index

  6 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Scapular Strengthening + Core Stabilization Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm will receive a structured exercise program consisting of scapular muscle strengthening (targeting the middle and lower trapezius and serratus anterior) combined with core stabilization exercises. The intervention will be supervised and performed over the defined treatment period, with sessions conducted multiple times per week. The program aims to improve postural control, reduce cervical spine load, and decrease neck pain intensity while enhancing functional outcomes.

Other: Scapular Muscle Strengthening Combined with Core Stabilization Exercises; Other: Conventional Neck Exercise Program

Conventional Exercise / Control Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this arm will receive conventional neck exercises, including cervical range-of-motion, stretching, and basic strengthening exercises commonly prescribed for work-related neck pain. No specific scapular strengthening or core stabilization exercises will be included. This group serves as a comparison to evaluate the additional effects of combined scapular and core stabilization training.

Other: Scapular Muscle Strengthening Combined with Core Stabilization Exercises; Other: Conventional Neck Exercise Program

Interventions

Scapular Muscle Strengthening Combined with Core Stabilization Exercises OTHER

This intervention consists of a structured therapeutic exercise program focusing on strengthening the scapular stabilizing muscles (including the middle and lower trapezius and serratus anterior) combined with core stabilization exercises targeting the deep abdominal and lumbar muscles. The program is designed to improve postural alignment, enhance trunk and shoulder girdle stability, and reduce mechanical stress on the cervical spine. Exercises are performed under supervision with progressive intensity over the intervention period. The intervention is specifically tailored for telephone operators experiencing work-related neck pain.

Conventional Exercise / Control Group; Scapular Strengthening + Core Stabilization Group

Conventional Neck Exercise Program OTHER

This intervention consists of conventional physiotherapy exercises commonly used for the management of work-related neck pain. The program includes cervical range-of-motion exercises, stretching of neck and shoulder muscles, and basic isometric strengthening of the cervical musculature. No specific scapular muscle strengthening or core stabilization exercises are included. The exercises are supervised and performed according to standard clinical practice guidelines for neck pain management, serving as a comparator to evaluate the added effects of scapular strengthening combined with core stabilization exercises.

Conventional Exercise / Control Group; Scapular Strengthening + Core Stabilization Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• \. Aged between 20 and 60 years(Kang, Im, \& Kim, 2021) 2. Both male and female(Hetaimish et al., 2024) 3. Sitting job during an 8-hour shift and worked telephone, and documents.(Tabanfar, Sobhani, Safari Variani, \& Varmazyar, 2023) 4. Employed 6 months ago 5. The patients included in this study if they have CVA equal or less than 50(Abd El-Azeim et al., 2022) 6. Neck pain with mild neck disability (NDI score 5-15)(Pawaria, Sudhan, \& Kalra, 2019) 7. A score of 4-7 for the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)(Kang et al., 2021)

You may not qualify if:

• \. History of traumatic cervical spine injuries ,Inflammatory arthropathy 2. Infectious spondylitis, severe osteoporosis, cervical disc protrusion, cervical spine fractures or dislocations, previous cervical surgery, and intractable migraines.(Tian et al., 2025a) 3. intermittent neck pain, transient neck pain or any radiation of the pain to the upper extremity (neurological origin of the pain)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Lahore: lead

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: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 26, 2026
• First Posted: March 18, 2026
• Study Start: February 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Last Updated: March 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share