Sensory and Functional Impairments in Cervical Disc Herniation

December 15, 2025 updated by: Dilan Demirtaş Karaoba, Inonu University

Investigation of Somatosensory Perception, Pain, Kinesiophobia, and Upper Extremity Functional Skills in Cervical Disc Herniation: A Case-Control Study

The aim of the study was to evaluate the levels of somatosensory perception, pain threshold and kinesiophobia in individuals with SDH, to examine their relationship with upper extremity functional skills and to compare them with healthy individuals.

Study Overview

Status

Status

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

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.

Detailed Description

Cervical disc herniation (SDH) occurs when nerve roots and/or spinal cord are compressed due to degeneration or displacement of the cervical intervertebral disc and can present with pain, sensory loss, muscle weakness, and functional limitations. Because the C5-T1 nerve roots provide motor and sensory innervation from the shoulder to the hand, SDH can cause not only pain but also impairments in somatosensory perception, tactile sensations, and proprioceptive awareness. Nerve root compression disrupts the integrity of sensory functions such as touch, vibration, and two-point discrimination, negatively impacting upper extremity abilities. Furthermore, pain and central sensitization processes lower the pain threshold, further limiting motor performance and activities of daily living. Therefore, the combined evaluation of somatosensory perception, pain, and functional abilities in individuals with SDH is crucial for a holistic understanding of the clinical picture.

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.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

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.
64

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)
    • Iğdir
      • Iğdır, Iğdir, Turkey (Türkiye)
        • Recruiting
        • Dilan Demirtas Karaoba
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • Büşra Candiri, asst. prof
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Ramazan Cihad YILMAZ, asst. prof
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Büşra Candiri, asst. prof

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

N/A

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Cervical disc herniation and healthy individuals

Description

Inclusion criteria for volunteers in the study: Neck pain lasting at least 3 months, Being between the ages of 18-65 with a diagnosis of cervical disc herniation, Being able to cooperate with the applied parameters, Having good cognitive function, Being literate, Agreeing to participate in the study.

For the control group, having no complaints of neck pain and not having any neck-related diagnosis.

Exclusion criteria for volunteers in the study: Neck pain intensity during activity according to the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) below 3, Individuals who have undergone any surgery related to neck problems, Individuals who have undergone surgery related to upper extremity problems, Individuals with cervical radiculopathy, Having a systemic malignant disease anywhere in the body, Having any disease related to connective tissue or inflammatory rheumatic diseases, Having a psychiatric diagnosis and receiving treatment, Being illiterate, Not having sufficient cognitive function, Having received any neck-related physical therapy in the last 6 months for the CBA group.

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

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
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.
Individuals with SDH
Individuals with SDH are patients diagnosed with cervical disc herniation by a physical therapist.
Other: Somatosensory Perception Tests

Tactile Localization Test The tactile localization test assesses touch perception. Finger Recognition Test The participant is asked to point to their finger, which has been touched with a pen, while their eyes are closed.

Double-Touch Stimulus Perception Test This test is based on the identification of two separate stimuli presented simultaneously.

Other: The Visual Analog Scale
The Visual Analog Scale evaluates the intensity of pain felt by patients in different activities and time periods (rest, activity and night) in centimeters (cm).
Other: Pain Threshold and Tolerance Assessment
Participants' pain threshold and tolerance to pressure are assessed using a digital algometer (JTech Medical Industries, ZEVEX Company).
Other: Upper extremity functionality
Upper extremity functionality will be assessed using the DASH and Purdue Pegboard Manual Dexterity Test.
healthy participants.
Individuals with similar demographic characteristics who did not have any neck pain during the initial interview were considered healthy participants.
Other: Somatosensory Perception Tests

Tactile Localization Test The tactile localization test assesses touch perception. Finger Recognition Test The participant is asked to point to their finger, which has been touched with a pen, while their eyes are closed.

Double-Touch Stimulus Perception Test This test is based on the identification of two separate stimuli presented simultaneously.

Other: The Visual Analog Scale
The Visual Analog Scale evaluates the intensity of pain felt by patients in different activities and time periods (rest, activity and night) in centimeters (cm).
Other: Pain Threshold and Tolerance Assessment
Participants' pain threshold and tolerance to pressure are assessed using a digital algometer (JTech Medical Industries, ZEVEX Company).
Other: Upper extremity functionality
Upper extremity functionality will be assessed using the DASH and Purdue Pegboard Manual Dexterity Test.

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
Pain Threshold and Tolerance Assessment
Time Frame: 24-48 hours
Participants' pain threshold and tolerance to pressure are assessed using a digital algometer (JTech Medical Industries, ZEVEX Company).
24-48 hours
Pain Assessment evaluates
Time Frame: 24-48 hours
Pain Assessment evaluates the intensity of pain felt by patients in centimeters (cm) during different activities and time periods (rest, activity and night).
24-48 hours
Somatosensory Perception Tests
Time Frame: 24-48 hours
24-48 hours
Upper extremity functionality
Time Frame: 24-48 hours
Upper extremity functionality will be assessed using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire and Purdue Pegboard Manual Dexterity Test.The total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating a higher level of upper extremity disability.
24-48 hours

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.
Inonu University

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.
October 24, 2025

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.
December 3, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

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.
March 12, 2026

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 2, 2025

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 2, 2025

First Posted (Estimated)

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.
December 15, 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.
December 22, 2025

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.
December 15, 2025

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.
December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

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.
  • 2025/8426

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

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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