Respiratory Exercises Versus Deep Neck Flexor Training in Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain

NCT07531537 | Active Not Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 66
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will be conducted to compare the effect of adding respiratory exercises versus deep neck flexor training to conventional program on pain, cervical ROM, cervical muscle endurance, function, and chest expansion in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain. Sixty-six (66) of both genders ranging in age from 18 to 35 years old, with a history of mechanical neck pain longer than 3 months (chronic neck pain) will be invited to participate in this study. Participants will be randomly assigned into one of the three experimental groups as follow: Group A will receive respiratory exercises in form of diaphragmatic breathing \& respiratory muscle stretch gymnastics plus conventional program. Group B will receive deep neck flexor training in the form of low-load craniocervical flexion using feedback from an air-filled pressure sensor placed behind the neck plus conventional program. Group C (control group) will receive conventional program in form of TENS, infrared, isometric neck strengthening exercises and stretching exercises.

Conditions

Chronic Neck Pain

Keywords

chronic neck pain; deep neck flexor training; respiratory exercises

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Neck pain

  pain will be assessed by visual analogue scale

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks

• Cervical ROM

  cervical ROM will be assessed by CROM device

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks

• Neck muscle endurance

  Neck muscle endurance will be assessed by crainiocervical flexion test using feedback from pressure sensor

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks

• Chest expansion

  chest expansion will be assessed by taping measurement

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks

• Neck function

  Neck function will be assessed by neck disability index, Arabic version

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks

Study Arms (3)

Respiratory exercises group

EXPERIMENTAL

22 male and female patients with chronic mechanical neck pain who will receive respiratory exercises in form of diaphragmatic breathing \& respiratory muscle stretch gymnastics plus conventional program.

Other: Respiratoty exercises

Deep neck flexor training group

EXPERIMENTAL

22 male and female patients with chronic mechanical neck pain who will receive deep neck flexor training in the form of low-load craniocervical flexion using feedback from an air-filled pressure sensor placed behind the neck plus conventional program

Other: Deep neck flexor training

control group

EXPERIMENTAL

22 male and female patients with chronic mechanical neck pain who will receive conventional program in form of TENS, infrared, isometric neck strengthening exercises and stretching exercises

Other: conventional program

Interventions

Respiratoty exercises OTHER

respiratory exercises in form of diaphragmatic breathing \& respiratory muscle stretch gymnastics plus conventional program

Respiratory exercises group

Deep neck flexor training OTHER

deep neck flexor training in the form of low-load craniocervical flexion using feedback from an air-filled pressure sensor placed behind the neck plus conventional program

Deep neck flexor training group

conventional program OTHER

conventional program in form of TENS, infrared, isometric neck strengthening exercises and stretching exercises

control group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Patients have mechanical neck pain lasting longer than three months.
• The ages of patients range from 18 to 35 years.
• Patients are lifetime non-smoker and non-alcoholic.

You may not qualify if:

• History of trauma or cervical spine fractures.
• Previous spinal surgery.
• Any inflammatory pathology.
• Any cervical disc pathology and neurological signs.
• Malignancy.
• Cervical radiculopathy.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Pregnant female.
• Currently using muscle relaxation medication.
• History of respiratory and cardiovascular illness

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Cairo University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Taheel center for physiotherapy

Zagazig, Egypt

Location

Study Officials

• karima abdelaty hassan, Ass. Prof.

  Cairo University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

• dina sayed abdullah, lecturer

  Cairo University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

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

Model Details: single blinded randomized control trial

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 3, 2026
• First Posted: April 15, 2026
• Study Start: March 10, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Last Updated: April 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

EG (1)