Neck Pain in Office Workers

NCT07562737 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 1 other identifier: Lithuanian Sports University32
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 120
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to evaluate effectiveness of short exercise breaks (2, 5, and 7 minutes) on chronic non-specific neck pain in office workers. It is a 12-week randomized controlled trial assessing pain, disability, and multiple functional and occupational outcomes. We aim to determine the most effective exercise duration for reducing neck pain and improving quality of life, productivity, and job satisfaction.

Conditions

Neck Pain

Keywords

sedentary; office workers; neck pain; disability; manual dexterity; balance; coordination; strenght

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Neck pain

  Numeric pain scale

  pre and post intervention (12 week)

• Neck Disability Index

  The questionnaire consists of 10 items, each scored from 0 to 5. The total score is interpreted as a percentage, where 0 points or 0% indicates no ac-tivity limitation, and 50 points or 100% indicates complete activity limitation. The NDI is a reliable and valid tool for assessing patients with neck pain, with intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.50 to 0.98. Patients scoring between 0-4 points (0-8%) are considered to have no disability, 5-14 points (10-28%) mild disability, 15-24 points (30-48%) moderate disability, 25-34 points (50-64%) severe disability, and 35-50 points (70-100%) complete disability

  Pre-post intervention (12 week)

• Postural stability

  Postural stability is assessed using the Biodex Balance System (BBS; Biodex Medical Systems Inc., Shirley, NY, USA), a validated computerized platform widely used to quantify balance performance and neuromuscular control in both healthy and clinical populations. Participants stood barefoot on the dynamic platform, with foot placement standardized by the system to ensure consistency across trials. They were instructed to maintain an upright posture with hands on the hips and to focus on a monitor positioned in front of them, which provided real-time visual feedback, enabling continuous monitoring and voluntary correction of postural sway (Biodex Medical Systems, 2020).Outcome measures automatically recorded by the BBS included the Overall Stability Index), Anterior-Posterior Stability Index, Medial-Lateral Stability Index, Overall Sway Index, Anterior-Posterior Sway Index, Medial-Lateral Sway Index, and Time-in-Zones percentages.

  Pre-post intervention (12 week)

• Bilateral Coordination

  Bilateral coordination are assessed using the Bilateral Comparison Test module of the Biodex Balance System (BBS), which evaluates static postural sway and interlimb symmetry under controlled conditions \[24, 25\]. Participants performed a single trial consisting of a 10-second single-leg stance on the left leg followed immediately by a 10-second single-leg stance on the right leg. All trials were conducted barefoot, with hands placed on the hips, while the platform remained static to isolate static balance control. The BBS automatically generate the following outcome measures: Overall Left and Right Sway Indices, Overall Interlimb Difference, Anterior-Posterior (A/P) Left and Right Sway Indices, A/P Interlimb Difference, and Medial-Lateral (M/L) Left and Right Sway Indices, as well as M/L Interlimb Difference (Supplementary Figure 2). Lower sway index values indicate better postural stability, reflecting reduced body sway. Smaller interlimb differences indicate greater bilateral symme

  Pre-post (12 wek)

• Manual dexterity performance (Purdue Pegboard Test)

  The Purdue Pegboard Test Model #32020A was used to assess unimanual and bimanual finger and hand dexterity performance among office workers with neck pain. This test was recognized as a reliable and valid tool for fine motor skills assessment and can be used for assessment in case of a variety of neurological disorders. The three test batteries were performed: 1) dominant hand; 2) non dominant hand; 3) both hands. The test procedures were performed according to the Purdue Pegboard Test User Instructions. The board was placed on a table in front of the subject comfortably sitting on a chair. The top right and left cups were filled with 25 pins in each to equal a total of 50 pins. Before performing the test the subject was instructed: "This is a test to see how quickly and accurately you can work with your hands. Before you begin each battery of the test, you will be told what to do and then you will have an opportunity to practice. Be sure you understand exactly what to do.

  Pre-post (12 week)

• Miotonometry

  Muscle tone was assessed using a myotonometer. The tone of the upper trapezius muscle was measured with a Myoton PRO device (Myoton AS, Tallinn, Estonia). This method allows for a simple and noninvasive evaluation of the mechanical properties of muscles and demonstrates high reliability, with an intra-rater correlation coefficient ranging from 0.94 to 0.99. Participants were seated on a chair with back support with both hands resting on their thighs and looked straight ahead during the measurements. Measurements were performed on the upper trapezius muscle bilaterally (right and left) at the midpoint of the line connecting the spinous process of the C7 vertebra and the acromion of the scapula. Three biomechanical parameters were recorded: muscle tone (Hz), elasticity (logarithmic decrement), and stiffness (N/m). During the measurement, the skin was preloaded with a force of 0.18 N, followed by five mechanical impulses of 0.4 N applied at 15-second interval

  Pre-post (12 week)

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Age

  Once- pre intervention

• Body Composition

  Pre-post (12 week)

• Sleep Quality (Numeric Scale)

  pre-post (12 week)

• Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire

  Pre-post (12 week)

• Hand Grip Strength

  Pre-post (12 week)

Study Arms (4)

2 min exercise

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants of this arm have uing work hours to complete 2 min exercise programme each hour

Other: 2 min Neck exercises

5 min exercise

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants of this arm have uing work hours to complete 5 min exercise programme each hour

Other: 5 min Neck exercise

7 min exercise

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this group are required to perform the 7 min duration exercises during working hours, once every hour throughout the workday.

Other: 7 min Neck ecercise

Controls

NO INTERVENTION

participants of this group will not get any intervention

Interventions

5 min Neck exercise OTHER

Participants in this group are required to perform the 5 min duration exercises during working hours, once every hour throughout the workday.

5 min exercise

7 min Neck ecercise OTHER

Participants in this group are required to perform the 7 minn duration exercises during working hours, once every hour throughout the workday.

7 min exercise

2 min Neck exercises OTHER

Participants are required to perform the exercises during working hours, once every hour throughout the workday.

2 min exercise

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Office workers engaged in sedentary work for at least 6 hours per day.

You may not qualify if:

• individuals with a specific neck diagnosis or acute neck pain.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Lithuanian Sports University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Department of health promotion and rehabilitation

Kaunas, Lt-44221, 44221, Lithuania

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neck Pain; Sedentary Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Prof.

Model Details: Four parallel groups

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 24, 2026
• First Posted: May 1, 2026
• Study Start: August 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2027
• Last Updated: May 1, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

LI (1)