Bruegger's Relief Exercise in Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain

NCT07791680 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: Aiemen Razzaq
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 44
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to determine the effect of Bruegger's Relief Exercise combined with conventional physical therapy on pain intensity, functional disability, cervical range of motion, and craniovertebral angle in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain

Conditions

Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain

Keywords

Bruegger's Relief Exercise; Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain; Forward Head Posture; Craniovertebral Angle; Neck Disability

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Numeric Pain Rating Scale

  An 11-point scale (0-10) used to assess pain intensity. 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates worst imaginable pain. Participants verbally report their pain score

  Baseline, Week 2, Week 4

• Neck Disability Index

  The NDI is a 10-item questionnaire assessing functional disability related to neck pain. Each item is scored 0-5 with total score range 0-50. Higher scores indicate greater disability.

  Baseline, Week 2, Week 4

• Cervical Range of Motion

  A universal goniometer will be used to measure cervical flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation

  Baseline, Week 2, Week 4

• Craniovertebral Angle

  CVA will be measured using the Angle - Video Goniometer mobile application via lateral photographic analysis. A smaller angle indicates greater forward head posture.

  Baseline, Week 2, Week

Study Arms (2)

Experimental: Bruegger's Relief Exercise + Conventional Physical Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Bruegger's Relief Exercise + Conventional Physical Therapy

Other: Bruegger's Relief Exercise + Conventional Physical Therapy

Conventional Physical Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Conventional Physical Therapy

Other: Conventional Treatment

Interventions

Bruegger's Relief Exercise + Conventional Physical Therapy OTHER

Bruegger's Relief Exercise. High sitting neutral posture with feet flat on the floor and a light resistance band held across the thighs. 1A gentle chin tuck is performed to maintain cervical alignment. The movement includes 2 shoulder abduction and external rotation 3. Elbow extension 4. Forearm supination 5. Wrist extension 6. Finger and thumb abduction, coordinated with diaphragmatic breathing. (Hold duration: 10-30 seconds with progression of 2 seconds per session). 12 repetitions per session with 30-second rest interval between holds. Total duration is 3 sessions per week for 4 consecutive weeks.

Experimental: Bruegger's Relief Exercise + Conventional Physical Therapy

Conventional Treatment OTHER

Conventional PT including 1- Cervical ROM exercises (flexion, extension, rotation, lateral flexion) 2- Stretching of upper trapezius and levator scapulae (30 sec hold × 3 repetitions) 3- Cervical isometric strengthening in all directions 4- Scapular stabilization exercises (elevation-depression, protraction-retraction) (Dosage: 2-3 sets of 10-15 repetitions). Total duration is 3 sessions per week for 4 consecutive weeks.

Conventional Physical Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Participants falling in this category would be recruited into the study.
• Age 20-50 years
• Diagnosis of chronic mechanical neck pain (\>3 months)
• Pain intensity ≥ 3/10 on NPRS
• Neck Disability Index score ≥ 10/50
• Willing to participate and provide informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Participants falling in this category would be excluded from the study.
• History of cervical spine fracture or surgery
• Systemic musculoskeletal or neurological disease
• Recent whiplash injury (within 6 months)
• Botulinum toxin injection within previous 6 months
• Severe structural deformity (e.g., torticollis, severe scoliosis)
• Red flag signs (fever, unexplained weight loss, progressive neurological deficit)
• Positive cervical instability tests (Sharp-Purser or Alar ligament test)
• Clinical signs of cervical radiculopathy (positive Spurling's/ULTT/distraction test)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University: lead

Study Sites (1)

AR Medical Complex, Mirpur, Azad Kashmir

Mīrpur, Azad Kashmir, 46000, Pakistan

Location

Study Officials

• KINZA ANWAR, MS-OMPT

  Riphah International University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

KINZA ANWAR, MS-OMPT

CONTACT

03319735427; kinza.anwar@riphah.edu.pk

KINZA ANWAR, MS-OMPT

CONTACT

kinza.anwar@riphah.edu.pk

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: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 25, 2026
• First Posted: August 28, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 5, 2027
• Last Updated: August 28, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)