Diaphragmatic Breathing and Electroacupuncture for Chronic Neck Pain

NCT07684092 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 1 other identifier: UOL/IREB/25/12/0036
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 72
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Chronic non specific neck pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder with significant impact on pain, forward head posture, and neck disability. Diaphragmatic breathing has been shown to improve relaxation and reduce musculoskeletal pain, while electroacupuncture has potential benefits in modulating pain pathways. However, the combined effect of these interventions in chronic neck pain remains unexplored. This randomized clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of diaphragmatic breathing and electroacupuncture, in addition to physiotherapy care, compared to simple, focused breathing, electroacupuncture, and physiotherapy care. The primary outcomes are the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) and neck disability index (NDI), while secondary outcome include craniovertebral angle (CVA).

Conditions

Chronic Neck Pain

Keywords

chronic neck pain; diaphragmatic breathing; electroacupuncture; randomized clinical trial; pain management; neck disability index; craniovertebral angle; physiotherapy care

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Pain Intensity

  Pain intensity will be assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, an 11 point scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst pain imaginable. Higher scores indicate greater pain (worse outcome).

  Baseline 1st, 3rd and at 6th week of intervention

• Neck Disability

  Neck disability will be assessed using the Neck Disability Index Urdu version , a 10-item questionnaire with a total score ranging from 0 to 50. Higher scores indicate greater disability (worse outcome).

  Baseline 1st, 3rd and at 6th week of intervention

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Craniovertebral Angle (CVA)

  Baseline 1st, 3rd and at 6th week of intervention

Study Arms (2)

Physiotherapy care, Diaphragmatic breathing, Electroacupuncture

EXPERIMENTAL

These patients will receive physiotherapy care, diaphragmatic breathing, and electroacupuncture as part of their treatment program. Total session time: 50 minutes Treatment schedule: 3 sessions on alternate days for 6 weeks

Other: physiotherapy care, diaphragmatic breathing, and electroacupuncture

Physiotherapy care, Simple focused breathing, Electroacupuncture

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

These patients will receive physiotherapy care, simple focused breathing exercises, and electroacupuncture as part of their treatment program. Total session time: 50 minutes Treatment schedule: 3 sessions on alternate days for 6 weeks

Other: physiotherapy care, simple focused breathing exercises, and electroacupuncture

Interventions

physiotherapy care, diaphragmatic breathing, and electroacupuncture OTHER

* Physiotherapy care: 30 minutes of physiotherapy, including 10 minutes of hot pack, neck isometrics (muscle setting exercises) (10x10) 3 sets for 10 minutes, and stretching exercises for 10 minutes. * Diaphragmatic breathing: 10 min per session in a comfortable supine position or focusing on slow, deep inhalation with diaphragmatic expansion will reduce pain threshold and prepare the patients to receive the electroacupuncture. * Electroacupuncture: Electrical stimulation with acupuncture needles will be applied to the targeted muscle group for 10 minutes per session by a certified practitioner. The targeted muscles will be the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, splenius capitis, and anterior scalene. * Treatment schedule: The session will consist of 30 minutes of physiotherapy care, 10 minutes of diaphragmatic breathing, and 10 minutes of electroacupuncture

Physiotherapy care, Diaphragmatic breathing, Electroacupuncture

physiotherapy care, simple focused breathing exercises, and electroacupuncture OTHER

* Physiotherapy care: 30 minutes of physiotherapy, including 10 minutes of hot pack, neck isometrics (muscle setting exercises) (10x10) 3 sets for 10 minutes, and stretching exercises for 10 minutes. * Simple focused breathing exercises: 10 minutes per session of simple, focused breathing exercises. * Electroacupuncture: Electrical stimulation with acupuncture needles will be applied to the targeted muscle group for 10 minutes per session by a certified practitioner. The targeted muscles will be the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, splenius capitis, and anterior scalene. * Treatment schedule: The session will consist of 30 minutes of physiotherapy care, 10 minutes of simple focused breathing exercises, and 10 minutes of electroacupuncture.

Physiotherapy care, Simple focused breathing, Electroacupuncture

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Patients having a history of the previous 3 months of chronic neck pain
• NPRS 4-7
• Patients having paradoxical breathing
• CVA less than 49 degrees

You may not qualify if:

• Congenital abnormality of the cervical spine
• Post-traumatic neck pain
• Hemorrhagic diseases
• Radiculopathy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Lahore: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Lahore Teaching Hospital

Lahore, Punjab Province, 54782, Pakistan

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Agnosia

Interventions

Electroacupuncture

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Perceptual Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Combined Modality Therapy; Therapeutics; Acupuncture Therapy; Complementary Therapies; Electric Stimulation Therapy; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; Analgesia; Anesthesia and Analgesia; Anesthesia

Study Officials

• Sahreen Anwar, PhD

  University of Lahore

  STUDY CHAIR

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: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 28, 2026
• First Posted: July 6, 2026
• Study Start: November 15, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 15, 2026
• Last Updated: July 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)