Effects of Scapulothoracic Stabilization Exercises on Pain and Neck Function in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain

NCT ID: NCT05777434

Last Updated: 2023-03-21

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: UNKNOWN
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 30 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-01-01
• Study Completion Date: 2023-07-01

Brief Summary

Neck pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder, involving discomfort and pain around the neck region, which results in limited neck function. Due to chronic neck pain, patient's neck function, cervical proprioception, ROM and cervical muscle strength is affected. Exercise is considered as one of the evidence-based modality to decrease pain, prevent further injury, increase muscle strength, endurance and flexibility, improve proprioception, and contribute and sustain normal life activities. In addition, recent studies suggest that exercises including not only neck but also scapulothoracic region might be more beneficial for the management of patients with chronic neck pain.Scapulothoracic stabilization exercises in addition to cervical stabilization exercises have the potential of improving this cervical sensorimotor control, however evidence is deficient Hence, this study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of adding scapula-thoracic stabilization training to conventional physical therapy on pain and neck function in the patients with chronic neck pain.

Detailed Description

The prevalence of neck pain has increased among general population due to several factors like wroking conditions, postural abnormalitites, sedentary lifestyle, previous trauma to neck region, and altered neuromuscular control of cervical muscles, which are the main risk factors as stated in the literature. Neck pain is the second most prevalent musculoskeletal disorder and ranked 21st on global burden of disease. According to literature, it causes 30% level of restriction in performance of daily life tasks. Sleeping, driving, recreational activities and absence from work are the daily life tasks in which they face difficulty.Due to work absenties and loss of productivity can lead to reduction of quality of life of individual as well as social and ecnomical loss.

Over time, several treatment approaches have been developed to treat neck pain but the most important thing is the correction of faulty biomechanics. One such technique is scapulothoracic stabilization exercise for patients of neck pain. There are findings that support the scapular stabilization exercises for reducing neck pain and disability level.Literature reviewed regarding assessment and treatment of chronic neck pain patients revolve around pain, neck function and range of motion, however limited evidance is available on cervical proprioception and deep cervical flexors strength This research presents comparison between conventional (including TENS,hot pack and cervial focused exercises) and scapulothoracic stabilization exercises in addition to conventional treatment for chronic neck pain. It will expand current understanding of importance of scapulothoracic stabilization exercises for chronic neck pain patients in improving pain,neck function,range of motion, cervical proprioception and deep cervical flexors strength.

The main objective of this study is to compare the conventional treatment and scapulothoracic stabilization exercises along with conventional treatment in chronic neck pain patients.

The participants meeting the eligibility criteria will be recruited, followed by random allocation to 2 groups,Group A (conventional) and Group B (scapulothoracic stabilization exercises plus conventional), respectively.Both groups will recieve standard treatment protocol which conjsist of hot pack, TENS, stretchings,post isometric relaxation and home exercise plan.Twelve treatment sessions will be performed on altervative days. Pretreatment and post treatment measurements of pain, neck function, neck range of motion, cervical proprioception and deep cervical flexors strength will be noted for each participant.

Conditions

Neck Pain

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Group A (Conventional Physical Therapy)

Patients in this group will recieve conventional physical therapy including hot pack and TENS for pain relief, axial elongtion exercises to correct posture, cervical isometrics and cervical stabilization exercises (cervical bracing with deep neck flexor activation followed by extremity ROM) along with general flexibility exercises.

Each exercise would be performed with a hold time of 5-10 sec and 8-12 reps. A total of 12 sessions would be conducted over a period of 4 weeks.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Conventional Physical Therapy for Chronic Neck Pain

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Conventional physical therapy for Chronic Neck Pain will include hot pack and TENS for pain relief, axial elongtion exercises to correct posture, cervical isometrics and cervical stabilization exercises. After 2 weeks, functional training will be added. Sets and repetitions will be increased progressively.

Group B (Scapulothoracic Stabilization Exercises)

Patients will recieve scapulothoracic stabilization exercises in addition to the convential physical therapy including hot pack, TENS, axial elongation, cervical isometrics and cervical stabilization exercises. SSE would include scapular adduction and shoulder external rotation, B/L shoulder extension with scapular retraction, Eccentric scapular retraction, Brügger exercise and Forward punch. Exercises would be given using latex Thera-Band, or acc. to patient strength for mild to moderate resistance.

Each exercise would be performed with a hold time of 5-10 sec and 8-12 reps. A total of 12 sessions would be conducted over a period of 4 weeks.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Conventional Physical Therapy for Chronic Neck Pain

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Conventional physical therapy for Chronic Neck Pain will include hot pack and TENS for pain relief, axial elongtion exercises to correct posture, cervical isometrics and cervical stabilization exercises. After 2 weeks, functional training will be added. Sets and repetitions will be increased progressively.

Scapulothoracic Stabilization Exercises

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

• Scapulothoracic stabilization exercises in addition to conventional physical therapy will include scapular adduction and shoulder external rotation, B/L shoulder extension with scapular retraction, Eccentric scapular retraction, Brügger exercise and Forward punch. Exercises would be given using latex Thera-Band, or acc. to patient strength for mild to moderate resistance. After 2 weeks, functional training will be added. Sets aand repetitions will be increased progressively.

Interventions

Conventional Physical Therapy for Chronic Neck Pain

Conventional physical therapy for Chronic Neck Pain will include hot pack and TENS for pain relief, axial elongtion exercises to correct posture, cervical isometrics and cervical stabilization exercises. After 2 weeks, functional training will be added. Sets and repetitions will be increased progressively.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Scapulothoracic Stabilization Exercises

• Scapulothoracic stabilization exercises in addition to conventional physical therapy will include scapular adduction and shoulder external rotation, B/L shoulder extension with scapular retraction, Eccentric scapular retraction, Brügger exercise and Forward punch. Exercises would be given using latex Thera-Band, or acc. to patient strength for mild to moderate resistance. After 2 weeks, functional training will be added. Sets aand repetitions will be increased progressively.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients with Chronic neck pain greather than 3 months
• Adults aged 18-45 years
• Both Male and Female
• Subjects with non-specific neck pain without specific identifiable etiology (infection, inflammatory disease etc)

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients with history of previous neck/ shoulder surgery
• History of cervical spine injury or surgery
• History of any psychological disorder.
• Pregnant females.
• Patient suffering from neck pain secondary to other conditions (neoplasm,neurological or vascular disease)
• Patient experiencing neck pain due to other causes such as tumors, fractures, radiculopathy etc.
• Patients who have received physiotherapy for neck pain from last 1 month

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 45 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Foundation University Islamabad

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Manahil Shahid

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

FUI

Locations

Foundation University Islamabad

Islamabad, Federal, Pakistan

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Pakistan

Central Contacts

Manahil Shahid, MS-MSKPT*

Role: CONTACT

awanmanahil146@gmail.com

+923334031991

Zara Khalid, PhD*

Role: CONTACT

zara.khalid@fui.edu.pk

+923335415822

Facility Contacts

Manahil Shahit

Role: primary

03334031991

Other Identifiers

FUI/CTR/2023/6

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id