Effects of Tele-rehabilitation Versus Supervised Rehabilitation Among Computer Users With Non-specific Neck Pain

April 22, 2026 updated by: Dr. Muhammad Tariq Rafiq, Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences

Effects of Tele-rehabilitation Versus Supervised Rehabilitation on Neck Pain, Disability and Exercise Adherence Among Computer Users With Non-specific Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The current study is a single-blinded, two-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial involving 62 participants with non-specific neck pain among computer users. The trial aims to compare the effects of tele-rehabilitation and supervised rehabilitation on neck pain, disability, and exercise adherence. Both groups will receive the same structured exercise program along with postural correction instructions. The tele-rehabilitation group will perform exercises remotely with digital guidance, reminders, and follow-ups, while the supervised group will receive in-clinic physiotherapy sessions under professional supervision. Interventions will be carried out three times per week for a duration of six weeks, with each session lasting approximately 40 minutes. Outcome measures will include neck pain (VAS), neck disability (NDI), and exercise adherence (ATEMPT tool).Assessments will be conducted at baseline and at the end of treatment at 8th week.The study will be conducted at the Physical Therapy Department of Sehat Medical Complex Lake City, and the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital. The hypothesis is that tele-rehabilitation will be more effective than supervised rehabilitation in reducing neck pain and disability, and may result in better exercise adherence due to its convenience and accessibility.

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

Non-specific neck pain (NSNP) is a significant medical and socioeconomic issue, particularly among computer users who maintain prolonged static postures. For these professionals, time poverty due to hectic schedules serves as a primary barrier to recovery and exercise adherence. While conventional supervised rehabilitation is effective, it often requires frequent in-person visits that can limit accessibility. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a tele-rehabilitation delivery model compared to traditional supervised care in improving neck pain, disability, and exercise adherence. The research uses a single-blinded, two-arm, parallel-group randomized clinical trial design.

Tele-rehabilitation Group (TG): Participants receive a digital postural instruction chart and a structured exercise program. Adherence is reinforced through daily WhatsApp notifications and monitored via digital confirmations.

Supervised Rehabilitation Group (SG): Participants receive the same exercise protocol and postural instructions but under the direct supervision of a qualified physiotherapist at a clinic. Both interventions are conducted three times a week for 6 weeks, with each session lasting approximately 30 minutes. The study will target 62 computer users aged 18-35 who work more than 35 hours per week and have experienced neck pain for at least 12 weeks.

Assessments will be conducted at baseline and every two weeks using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and the Adherence To Exercise for Musculoskeletal Pain Tool (ATEMPT). The study aims to validate a clinic-to-desk model that eliminates geographical and time constraints, potentially reducing work absenteeism and improving the long-term health of the workforce.

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.
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 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:

  • Age 18-35 years.
  • Neck pain that worsens with movement in at-least one direction
  • Computer users with neck pain for at-least 12 weeks
  • Neck pain with Visual Analog score of 3 to 8 out of 10
  • Participants with forward head posture (FHP)
  • Working >35h per week at a desk or computer in a sedentary manner

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals with any neurological or vascular disease
  • A history of shoulder or spine injuries or surgeries
  • Participants with history of regular participation or training programs
  • Participants with body mass index over 30
  • Participants having undergone physical therapy or other medical treatments for neck pain in the previous 6 months

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.
Experimental: Telerehabilitation Group
Participants in the tele-rehabilitation group will receive exercise reminders and instructions digitally via WhatsApp reminders.
Other: Neck and upper back strengthening exercises by Tele-rehabilitation Intervention
Interventions (Postural Awareness, Neck and Upper Back strengthening exercises via Whatsapp reminders).Although both neck and upper back strengthening exercises have demonstrated potential effects individually, there is a paucity of research evaluating their combined effects. A structured program combining both exercises may produce improvements in pain, disability and greater exercise adherence rates when delivered digitally.
Active Comparator: Supervised Rehabilitation Group
Participants in the Supervised Rehabilitation group will receive the same protocol as the tele-rehabilitation group in the clinic under the supervision of a physiotherapist.
Other: Neck and upper back strengthening by Supervised Rehabilitation Intervention
Interventions ((Postural Awareness, Neck and Upper Back strengthening exercises under supervision) Participants in this group will receive the same 40 -minute session consisting of same exercises as the tele-rehabilitation group in the clinic under the supervision of a physiotherapist.

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
Neck Pain
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks
Neck pain will be assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS). The VAS, widely regarded as one of the most reliable and validated methods for self-reporting pain intensity, uses a 10 cm horizontal line. On this scale, 0 cm indicates "no pain," while 10 cm represents "worst pain".
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks

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
Disability
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks
The neck disability level will be determined using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), English version. This self-reporting questionnaire determines the disability index of the cervical spine and its impact on daily activities. The NDI has been validated as an effective evaluative tool for patients with neck pain. Each item is scored out of five (with the 'no disability' response given a score of 0), giving a total score for the questionnaire out of 50. Higher scores represent greater disability.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks
Exercise Adherence
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks
Exercise adherence will be measured by using tool "Adherence To Exercise for Musculoskeletal Pain Tool (ATEMPT)". It is the first measure of adherence to exercise for MSK pain. ATEMPT is a uni-dimensional measure that contains six items from the six domains of exercise adherence. The 6-item version of the measure (scored 6-30). Each of the 6 items is scored on a 5-point Likert scale: Strongly Disagree = 1, Disagree = 2, Neither Agree nor Disagree = 3, Agree = 4, Strongly Agree = 5. Sum the scores from all 6 items to get a total between 6 (lowest adherence) and 30 (highest adherence). Higher scores (closer to 30) suggest better adherence to exercise, while lower scores (closer to 6) suggest poorer adherence.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 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.
Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Muhammad Tariq Rafiq, PhD, Lahore University of Biological & Applied Sciences

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.
May 1, 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.
August 1, 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.
September 1, 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).
April 22, 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.
April 22, 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.
April 29, 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.
April 29, 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 22, 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.
  • UBAS/ERB/26/04/033

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Only IPD used in the results publication will be shared.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

It will be available after the completion of the study.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Through the corresponding author.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF
  • CSR

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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