Effects of Exercise Training Delivered Through Telerehabilitation on Text Neck Syndrome

NCT ID: NCT07200752

Last Updated: 2025-10-07

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 31 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-04-23
• Study Completion Date: 2025-08-26

Brief Summary

To compare the effectiveness of telerehabilitation exercise program with that of supervised in-person physiotherapy in improving neck muscle endurance, pain intensity, and functional disability in university students with text neck syndrome. Methods:

A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 31 university students aged 18-24 diagnosed with text neck syndrome. Participants were randomly assigned to either a telerehabilitation group or a supervised in-person exercise group. Both groups received an identical six-week exercise program, delivered three times per week, including stretching, range of motion, isometric, and postural correction exercises with progressive intensity. Primary outcomes included deep cervical flexor and extensor muscle endurance. Secondary outcomes were neck pain intensity and functional disability. Assessments were performed at baseline and post-intervention.

Detailed Description

Introduction

Text Neck Syndrome, also known as turtle neck posture, is a repetitive stress injury of the neck associated with prolonged use of handheld electronic devices that disrupts cervical spine alignment and function. When users maintain a forward head posture, particularly while using smartphones, this can lead to upper back discomfort, muscle spasms, shoulder stiffness, and cramps due to increased mechanical load on cervical tissues. The term Text Neck was introduced to describe this phenomenon. Biomechanical modeling has shown that as cervical flexion increases, the mechanical load on the cervical spine rises substantially, which can encourage loss of the natural cervical curvature and promote kyphotic changes in the upper thoracic spine. These postural alterations may destabilize ergonomics and contribute to musculoskeletal dysfunction. If left untreated, text neck posture may result in long-term structural changes, including vertebral misalignment, neuromuscular impairment, and chronic pain syndromes. Additionally, abnormal head posture is associated with impaired proprioception, increased postural sway, and reduced balance control. Telerehabilitation, defined as the delivery of therapeutic interventions through digital platforms, offers a promising alternative to in-person therapy by overcoming barriers related to distance, mobility, and cost. Its widespread adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that remotely supervised neck exercise programs can produce results comparable to traditional care for chronic neck pain. Telerehabilitation has been associated with reduced pain intensity, improved physical function, and enhanced quality of life in individuals experiencing neck pain.

Conditions

Text Neck Syndrome; Telerehabilitation; Exercise

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Telerehabilitaion exercise program

telerehabilitation based neck exercise training

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Telerehabilitation-Based Neck Exercise Training

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants received a 6-week Telerehabilitation exercise program delivered via video calls and digital platforms, three sessions per week. The program included stretching, active range of motion, isometric strengthening, and postural correction exercises with progressive intensity.

supervised in-person exercise program

supervised physiotherapy exercise training

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Supervised physiotherapy exercise training

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants received the same 6-week exercise program as the Telerehabilitation group, but delivered face-to-face in a supervised clinical setting by a physiotherapist, three sessions per week.

Interventions

Telerehabilitation-Based Neck Exercise Training

Participants received a 6-week Telerehabilitation exercise program delivered via video calls and digital platforms, three sessions per week. The program included stretching, active range of motion, isometric strengthening, and postural correction exercises with progressive intensity.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Supervised physiotherapy exercise training

Participants received the same 6-week exercise program as the Telerehabilitation group, but delivered face-to-face in a supervised clinical setting by a physiotherapist, three sessions per week.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Participants will be eligible for inclusion if they meet all of the following criteria:

Are between 18 and 24 years of age.

Report smartphone use exceeding 3 hours per day.

Present with at least three of the following symptoms:

Neck pain

Shoulder pain

Upper back pain

Headache

Insomnia

Tingling or numbness in the hands

Exclusion Criteria

Participants will be excluded if they meet any of the following criteria:

Have a known orthopedic or neurological condition.

Have a history of recent cervical or spinal surgery.

Have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder.

Have any medical contraindication to performing physical activity or exercise.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 24 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Karabuk University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

METEHAN YANA

Director, PT, PhD

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Karabuk University

Karabük, Karabük Province, Turkey (Türkiye)

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Other Identifiers

KBU TEXT NECK

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id