Scapular Repositioning for Neck Pain and Scapular Dysfunction

NCT ID: NCT07083570

Last Updated: 2025-07-24

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 78 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-08-01
• Study Completion Date: 2025-11-30

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial is designed to evaluate the effects of scapular repositioning in individuals with neck pain and scapular dysfunction. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Does scapular repositioning reduce neck pain, increase range of motion, and improve joint position sense and pressure pain threshold?

2. Which type of scapular repositioning technique is more effective?

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups:

1. Active scapular repositioning: The examiner will first passively position the scapula in a neutral position on the posterior chest wall. The participant will then be instructed to actively maintain that position for 10 seconds. This procedure will be repeated for 10 repetitions, with a 10-second rest interval between each repetition.

2. Passive scapular repositioning: The examiner will passively position and hold the scapula in a neutral position for 10 seconds. This procedure will be repeated for 10 repetitions, with a 10-second rest interval between each repetition.

3. Sham scapular repositioning (control): The examiner will perform gentle shoulder movements that do not alter scapular positioning. Each movement will be held for 10 seconds, repeated 10 times, with a 10-second rest interval between repetitions.

All participants will undergo pre- and post-intervention assessments (immediately after the intervention and at 30 minutes post-intervention). The primary outcomes include neck pain intensity, cervical range of motion, cervical and shoulder proprioception, and pressure pain threshold. All outcomes will be compared between groups and across time points (pre- and post-intervention).

Conditions

Neck Pain; Scapular Dyskinesis

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Active scapular repositioning

Self-active scapular repositioning exercise

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Active scapular repositioning

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The examiner will first passively position the participant's scapula in a neutral position on the posterior chest wall. The participant will then be instructed to actively maintain that position.

Passive scapular repositioning

Therapist-assisted scapular repositioning

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Passive scapular repositioning

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

The examiner will passively position and hold the participant's scapula in a neutral position.

Sham scapular repositioning

Sham scapular repositioning procedure

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham scapular repositioning

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

The examiner will perform gentle shoulder girdle movements that do not alter scapular positioning.

Interventions

Active scapular repositioning

The examiner will first passively position the participant's scapula in a neutral position on the posterior chest wall. The participant will then be instructed to actively maintain that position.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Passive scapular repositioning

The examiner will passively position and hold the participant's scapula in a neutral position.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Sham scapular repositioning

The examiner will perform gentle shoulder girdle movements that do not alter scapular positioning.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Chronic idiopathic neck pain for ≥3 months
• An average pain intensity over the past week ≥3 mm on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
• A current score of at least 10/100 on the Neck Disability Index-Thai version
• Having altered scapular alignment ipsilateral to the more painful side of neck pain

Exclusion Criteria

• History of neck injury or surgery
• History of shoulder girdle pain, fracture, surgery or dislocation
• History of neurological conditions (e.g. stroke, Parkinson's disease, brachial plexus injury)
• History of marked spinal abnormalities (e.g. kyphosis, scoliosis) and other musculoskeletal conditions that could affect the scapular movement (e.g. myofascial pain syndrome, fibromyalgia, inflammatory joint disease, and/or autoimmune diseases)
• Have participated in any specific training of the neck or shoulder girdle muscles in the last 6 months

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 59 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University of Phayao

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Nipaporn Wannaprom

Lecturer

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Phayao

Phayao, Changwat Phayao, Thailand

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Thailand

Central Contacts

Nipaporn Wannaprom, Dr

Role: CONTACT

nipaporn.wa@up.ac.th

+66-54-466-666

Facility Contacts

Nipaporn Wannaprom, Dr

Role: primary

nipaporn.wa@up.ac.th

+66-54-466-666

Other Identifiers

HREC-UP-HSST 1.2/073/68

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id