Eye Exercises and Self-Cervical Mobilization in Office Workers With Neck Pain

March 12, 2026 updated by: SEMRA KARACOMAK, Bahçeşehir University

Effects of Eye Exercises and Self-Cervical Mobilization on Pain, Cervical Proprioception, and Quality of Life in Office Workers With Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the effects of eye exercises and eye exercises plus self-cervical mobilization versus ergonomic education in office workers with mechanical neck pain. A total of 66 participants will be randomized to one of three groups and followed for 6 weeks. Outcomes assessed at baseline and week 6 include pain (VAS), cervical proprioception (joint position error), neck disability (NDI), cervical range of motion, and quality of life (Nottingham Health Profile).

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet 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

Mechanical neck pain is common among office workers and may be associated with impaired cervical sensorimotor control. This study is a three-arm randomized controlled trial comparing (1) eye exercises, (2) eye exercises plus self-cervical mobilization, and (3) ergonomic education. Sixty-six eligible office workers aged 25-50 years with mechanical neck pain will be randomized using a computer-generated sequence; outcome assessment is intended to be performed by a blinded assessor. The intervention period is 6 weeks with programs delivered 3 times per week. Outcomes will be measured at baseline and week 6, including pain (VAS), cervical proprioception (joint position error), neck disability (NDI), cervical range of motion, and quality of life (Nottingham Health Profile).

Semra Karaçomak Etik Kurul

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 (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.
66

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 Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

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

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Office workers aged 25-50 years.
  • Desk-based work for ≥6 months.
  • Computer use ≥4 hours/day, ≥5 days/week.
  • Mechanical neck pain (recurrent in the last 3 months or chronic ≥4 weeks).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of cervical fracture/trauma or cervical surgery.
  • Neurological deficit (e.g., radiculopathy/myelopathy) or vestibular disorder.
  • Cervical disc herniation, fibromyalgia, or rheumatologic disease.
  • Significant visual disorder/strabismus or conditions affecting oculomotor/vestibulo-ocular function.
  • Participation in a neck/eye exercise program within the last 6 months.
  • Regular use of analgesics or muscle relaxants.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Hemophilia or bleeding/coagulation disorders.

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: None (Open Label)

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.
Experimental: eye exercises
Participants perform a structured eye exercise program for 6 weeks (3 sessions/week).
Other: Eye Exercise Program
Structured eye exercise sessions performed 3 times/week for 6 weeks.
Experimental: Eye Exercises + Self-Cervical Mobilization
Participants perform the same eye exercise program plus a self-cervical mobilization program for 6 weeks (3 sessions/week).
Other: Eye Exercise Program + Self-Cervical Mobilization
The same eye exercise program plus a self-cervical mobilization program, 3 times/week for 6 weeks.
Active Comparator: Control - Ergonomic Education
Participants receive office ergonomics education/recommendations for neck pain management.
Other: Ergonomic Education
Office ergonomics education/recommendations for neck pain management (control).

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 intensity (VAS 0-10)
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 6
Change in neck pain intensity measured using a 0-10 Visual Analog Scale.
Baseline and Week 6

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cervical proprioception (Joint Position Error, degrees)
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 6
Change in cervical joint position error measured in degrees.
Baseline and Week 6
Cervical range of motion (goniometry)
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 6
Change in cervical ROM (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, rotation) measured with a goniometer.
Baseline and Week 6
Neck disability (Neck Disability Index, NDI)
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 6
Change in NDI score.Neck-related disability assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). The scale consists of 10 items scored from 0 to 5, yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 50. Higher scores indicate greater neck-related disability (worse outcome).
Baseline and Week 6
Quality of life (Nottingham Health Profile, NHP)
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 6
Change in NHP total and/or domain scores.Health-related quality of life assessed using the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). The scale evaluates six domains (pain, physical mobility, energy, sleep, social isolation, and emotional reactions). Scores range from 0 to 100 for each domain, with higher scores indicating poorer perceived health status (worse outcome).
Baseline and Week 6

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.
Bahçeşehir 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 (Estimated)

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.
March 20, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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.
May 20, 2026

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.
October 20, 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).
March 2, 2026

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.
March 2, 2026

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.
March 6, 2026

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.
March 16, 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.
March 12, 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.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

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.
  • BauMSc

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared because the study is an academic thesis project and the consent form does not include provisions for public IPD sharing.

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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