Electrotherapy Combined With Neck Exercises for Non-Specific Neck Pain

NCT ID: NCT06842381

Last Updated: 2025-12-22

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

100 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-06-01

Study Completion Date

2026-02-28

Brief Summary

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Objectives: The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of telerehabilitation versus a face-to-face program in the therapeutic approach to non-specific neck pain through exercise and analgesic electrotherapy.

Methods: Randomized clinical trial on 100 participants with nonspecific neck pain who will be randomized into two groups to receive analgesic electrotherapy combined with a cervical exercise program through telemedicine or face to face. A total of 24 sessions will be applied over 8 weeks. Demographic and clinical data, disability, pain intensity, kinesiophobia, isometric spinal muscle strength, quality of life, and cervical mobility will be collected. Assessments will be performed at the beginning of the study (baseline), at 8 weeks (post-treatment) and 2 months after the end of the intervention (follow-up).

Detailed Description

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Introduction: Neck pain is a common problem in the working-age population, with a high recurrence rate and one of the highest health costs globally. Exercise is considered one of the keys in the management of this pathology, and electrotherapy is consolidated as a safe and proven analgesic measure. Telemedicine facilitates access to health care by eliminating geographical barriers and reducing costs, allowing consultations from any location and favoring the patient's work-life balance. The widespread availability of smartphones, tablets and computers makes telerehabilitation more accessible than ever.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of telerehabilitation versus a face-to-face program in the therapeutic approach to non-specific neck pain through exercise and analgesic electrotherapy.

Methods: Randomized clinical trial with 100 participants with non-specific neck pain who will be randomized into two groups to receive analgesic electrotherapy combined with a cervical exercise program through telemedicine or face to face. A total of 24 sessions will be applied over 8 weeks. Demographic and clinical data, disability, pain intensity, kinesiophobia, isometric spinal muscle strength, quality of life, and cervical mobility will be collected. Assessments will be performed at the beginning of the study (baseline), at 8 weeks (post-treatment) and 2 months after the end of the intervention (follow-up).

Conditions

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Chronic Pain

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Telerehabilitation Program

Patients will be instructed in the therapeutic approach through a telerehabilitation program using a portable TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) with a specific program for cervical pain (ENRAF NONIOUS Iberica, SA, Spain) while performing McKenzie exercises. The specific program will consist of a conventional low-frequency, high-phase duration TENS (80 Hz/200 μs) applied directly to the cervical area using four electrodes (5x5 cm) at the bilateral paravertebral level. In patients who present radicular pain, the electrodes will be placed along the path of the affected nerve.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Face to Face Program

Intervention Type OTHER

Electroanalgesia therapy and the McKenzie exercise protocol will be applied by six therapists with more than 10 years of experience in both procedures. This program will be developed in the Health Sciences clinical units of the Universities of Almeria, Granada and Malaga.

Face to Face Program

Patients will be instructed in the therapeutic approach through a face to face program using a portable TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) with a specific program for cervical pain (ENRAF NONIOUS Iberica, SA, Spain) while performing McKenzie exercises. The specific program will consist of a conventional low-frequency, high-phase duration TENS (80 Hz/200 μs) applied directly to the cervical area using four electrodes (5x5 cm) at the bilateral paravertebral level. In patients who present radicular pain, the electrodes will be placed along the path of the affected nerve.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Telerehabilitation Program

Intervention Type OTHER

A support system for the treatment of cervical pain based on Web technologies will be used, accredited as a health website. This system has a structure based on 4 sections: database treatment, database user profiles, recommendations, and feedback/biofeedback procedures. This system allows the registration and introduction of a subject, and modification of a treatment with electroanalgesia and exercises, according to the symptomatic evolution of the pain. It is based on an initial patient assessment system.

Interventions

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Telerehabilitation Program

A support system for the treatment of cervical pain based on Web technologies will be used, accredited as a health website. This system has a structure based on 4 sections: database treatment, database user profiles, recommendations, and feedback/biofeedback procedures. This system allows the registration and introduction of a subject, and modification of a treatment with electroanalgesia and exercises, according to the symptomatic evolution of the pain. It is based on an initial patient assessment system.

Intervention Type OTHER

Face to Face Program

Electroanalgesia therapy and the McKenzie exercise protocol will be applied by six therapists with more than 10 years of experience in both procedures. This program will be developed in the Health Sciences clinical units of the Universities of Almeria, Granada and Malaga.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Male and female patients between the ages of 30 and 65, with a medical diagnosis of cervical pain of non-specific origin,

* Acceptance and signature of informed consent for voluntary participation in the research study.
* Not receiving physical therapy.
* Chronic cervical pain lasting 3 months or more and not receiving any other type of physiotherapy treatment.

Exclusion Criteria

* Patients undergoing rehabilitation treatment for pathologies of cervical origin.
* Patients have osteosynthesis material at the cervical level and/or cardiac complications, epilepsy or tumors.
* Patients who have undergone radiotherapy in the last 6 months.
Minimum Eligible Age

30 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Andaluz Health Service

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role collaborator

Adelaida María Castro-Sánchez

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Adelaida María Castro-Sánchez

Full Professor

Responsibility Role SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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University of Almeria

Almería, Almeria, Spain

Site Status

Countries

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Spain

References

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Ozden F, Sari Z, Karaman ON, Aydogmus H. The effect of video exercise-based telerehabilitation on clinical outcomes, expectation, satisfaction, and motivation in patients with chronic low back pain. Ir J Med Sci. 2022 Jun;191(3):1229-1239. doi: 10.1007/s11845-021-02727-8. Epub 2021 Aug 6.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 34357527 (View on PubMed)

Hinman RS, Campbell PK, Kimp AJ, Russell T, Foster NE, Kasza J, Harris A, Bennell KL. Telerehabilitation consultations with a physiotherapist for chronic knee pain versus in-person consultations in Australia: the PEAK non-inferiority randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2024 Mar 30;403(10433):1267-1278. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02630-2. Epub 2024 Mar 7.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 38461844 (View on PubMed)

Xiang W, Wang JY, Ji BJ, Li LJ, Xiang H. Effectiveness of Different Telerehabilitation Strategies on Pain and Physical Function in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Med Internet Res. 2023 Dec 4;25:e40735. doi: 10.2196/40735.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 37982411 (View on PubMed)

Lara-Palomo IC, Gil-Martinez E, Ramirez-Garcia JD, Capel-Alcaraz AM, Garcia-Lopez H, Castro-Sanchez AM, Antequera-Soler E. Efficacy of e-Health Interventions in Patients with Chronic Low-Back Pain: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. Telemed J E Health. 2022 Dec;28(12):1734-1752. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2021.0599. Epub 2022 May 9.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 35532971 (View on PubMed)

Villatoro-Luque FJ, Rodriguez-Almagro D, Aibar-Almazan A, Fernandez-Carnero S, Pecos-Martin D, Ibanez-Vera AJ, Castro-Martin E, Achalandabaso-Ochoa A. Telerehabilitation for the treatment in chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled trial. J Telemed Telecare. 2025 Jun;31(5):637-646. doi: 10.1177/1357633X231195091. Epub 2023 Aug 30.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 37649362 (View on PubMed)

Janela D, Costa F, Molinos M, Moulder RG, Lains J, Francisco GE, Bento V, Cohen SP, Correia FD. Asynchronous and Tailored Digital Rehabilitation of Chronic Shoulder Pain: A Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study. J Pain Res. 2022 Jan 8;15:53-66. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S343308. eCollection 2022.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 35035234 (View on PubMed)

Bobos P, Pereira TV, Pouliopoulou DV, Charakopoulou-Travlou M, Nazari G, MacDermid JC. Which Remote Rehabilitation Interventions Work Best for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and Depression? A Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2024 Jun;54(6):361-376. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2024.12216.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 38406873 (View on PubMed)

Sivertsson J, Sernert N, Ahlund K. Exercise-based telerehabilitation in chronic low back pain - a scoping review. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2024 Nov 23;25(1):948. doi: 10.1186/s12891-024-07952-7.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 39580408 (View on PubMed)

Peterson G, Peolsson A. Efficacy of Neck-Specific Exercise With Internet Support Versus Neck-Specific Exercise at a Physiotherapy Clinic in Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders: Multicenter Randomized Controlled Noninferiority Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2023 Jun 20;25:e43888. doi: 10.2196/43888.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 37338972 (View on PubMed)

Nanda U, Luo J, Wonders Q, Pangarkar S. Telerehabilitation for Pain Management. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2021 May;32(2):355-372. doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2021.01.002. Epub 2021 Mar 6.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 33814062 (View on PubMed)

Cuenca-Martinez F, Lopez-Bueno L, Suso-Marti L, Varangot-Reille C, Calatayud J, Herranz-Gomez A, Romero-Palau M, Casana J. Implementation of Online Behavior Modification Techniques in the Management of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Med. 2022 Mar 24;11(7):1806. doi: 10.3390/jcm11071806.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 35407414 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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SICEIA-2024-000820

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id