Neck Education for Parents of Disabled Children

April 17, 2026 updated by: Atahan TURHAN, Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi

Effects of a Neck Education Program in Parents of Children With Disabilities: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: Parents of children with disabilities are at risk of musculoskeletal pain, postural disorders, and functional limitations due to caregiving responsibilities and physical demands. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a neck education program in parents of children with disabilities who have chronic neck pain.

Method: This single-blind randomized controlled trial included 62 parents diagnosed with chronic neck pain (intervention group: n=30; control group: n=32). The intervention group received a neck education program, while the control group did not receive any training. The program was implemented over five consecutive days and consisted of five 60-minute sessions. Neck pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ); functional disability using the Neck Disability Index (NDI); spinal curvature using the Spinal Mouse device; posture using the Corbin Posture Assessment Scale (CPAS); physical activity level using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF); and quality of life using the SF-36. Assessments were conducted before and 12 weeks after the intervention. Data were analyzed using two-way mixed-design analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Results: At baseline, no significant differences were found between groups for any parameter (p > 0.05). After the intervention, the intervention group showed a significant improvement in NDI scores (p < 0.001), whereas no significant changes were observed in other parameters (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: The neck education program was found to be effective in reducing functional disability among parents of children with disabilities who experience chronic neck pain.

Keywords: Chronic neck pain; Functional disability; Neck education; Parents of children with disabilities

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
62

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Merkez
      • Kırşehir, Merkez, Turkey (Türkiye), 40100
        • Atahan Turhan

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Volunteer parents between the ages of 18-65, with spinal problems and chronic pain, pain lasting longer than 3 months, no inflammatory pain, no pain originating from abdominal-pelvic organs will be included in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals with acute fractures and malignancies, cervical disc herniation, those who have undergone surgical operations in the cervical region or spine, those with upper extremity pathologies, and those with rheumatological, neurological and psychological disorders will be excluded from the study.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
No Intervention: Control Group
Experimental: Study Group
Other: Exercise
It will consist of sessions that include neck anatomy, biomechanics, proper posture, ergonomics and neck exercise training.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Assessment of Neck Pain
Time Frame: 20 weeks
Visual Analog Scale (VAS): VAS is a measurement generally used to assess pain intensity. VAS is a scale consisting of 10 cm horizontal lines numbered from 0 to 10. The "0" point indicates no pain; the "10" point indicates unbearable pain. The pain intensity felt by caregivers in their spine will be assessed with VAS. Participants will be asked to score the pain intensity felt during rest, activity and sleep between 0 and 10, and the results will be recorded.
20 weeks
Assessment of Neck Pain
Time Frame: 20 weeks
Mc-Gill Melzack Pain Scale (MMAS): Participants' pain will be measured multidimensionally with MMAS. MMAS consists of 4 sections. The first section includes questions about the area of pain the patient has, the second section evaluates the pain in terms of perception and sensation, the third section includes questions about the relationship between pain and time, and the fourth section includes questions about the severity of pain. The scale is a 4-point Likert-type scale, and each item is scored between 0 and 3 (0: no pain; 3: the most severe pain), and a high total score indicates a high level of pain. The total pain score varies between 0 and 45 (0: no pain; 45: the most severe pain).
20 weeks
Neck Disability Assessment
Time Frame: 20 weeks
The neck functionality of the participants will be assessed with the Neck Disability Index (NDI), which has validity and reliability. The index, which assesses daily living activities and symptoms, consists of a total of 10 sections. These sections include pain level, personal care, weight bearing, reading, headache, concentration, work life, driving, sleep status and recreational activities. A score between 0-4 is interpreted as no disability, a score between 5-14 is interpreted as mild disability, a score between 15-24 is interpreted as moderate disability, a score between 25-34 is interpreted as severe disability and a score above 35 is interpreted as total disability.
20 weeks
Evaluation of Spinal Curvature
Time Frame: 20 weeks
Spinal Mouse (SM) is a computer-aided handheld electromechanical device. SM is a measurement tool developed to determine spinal column alignment, segmental and total curvatures, and vertebral motion angles in many planes. SM is a clinically applicable, valid, and objective method. In our study, the Idiag brand SM device will be used. The participants' clothes will be removed and measurements will be made with SM between the C7 (cervical) and S3 (sacral) regions. The data obtained from the measurement will be transferred to the computer via a wireless connection. On the computer, the data will be analyzed via the program and interpreted by the consultant.
20 weeks
Posture Evaluation
Time Frame: 20 weeks
Posture analysis will be done with the CPAS (Corbin Posture Analysis Scale) prepared by Corbin and his friends. The participant will be evaluated with this scale in the posture analysis table from the lateral and posterior observations. The scale is scored between 0 and 3 (0: none; 3: severe) according to the severity of the disorder. The scores obtained by observing from the posterior and lateral are collected and classified in the final state (Poor ≥12; moderate 8-11; good 5-7; very good 3-4; excellent 0-2).
20 weeks
Physical Activity Evaluation
Time Frame: 20 weeks
The physical activity level of the participants will be assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IFQQ). The scale provides information about the time spent in sitting, walking, moderate and vigorous activities. The participants were asked how many days and how many minutes/hours they did vigorous and moderate exercise, walked and sat in the last 7 days. The criteria for evaluating the activities are based on the fact that each can be done for at least 10 minutes. A value called "MET minutes/week" is obtained by multiplying the minutes, days and metabolic equivalent (MET) values. The physical activity level is classified as physically inactive (<600 MET-min/week), low (minimally active) (600-3000 MET-min/week) and sufficient physical activity level for health (very active) (>3000 MET-min/week).
20 weeks
Assessment of Quality of Life
Time Frame: 20 weeks
The Short Form-36 Quality of Life Scale (SF-36) will be used to assess quality of life. The scale consists of 8 different sub-dimensions (social function, physical function, emotional role difficulty, physical role difficulty, vitality (energy), pain, mental health, and general health) and a total of 36 items. Sub-groups are evaluated between 0-100 points, and "0 points" indicates poor health status, and "100 points" indicates good health status.
20 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 30, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 28, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
November 3, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 26, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 26, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 3, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 20, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 17, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • KAEU-T.ATAHAN-008

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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