Progressive Scapular-Focused Exercises for Neck Pain Related to Scapular Dysfunction

November 5, 2026 updated by: Nipaporn Wannaprom, University of Phayao

Effects of a Progressive Scapular-Focused Exercise Program in People With Neck Pain Related to Scapular Dysfunction

Neck pain is often associated with scapular dysfunction. However, this relationship is not present in all cases. Previous studies on scapular-focused exercises have reported inconsistent findings, possibly due to limitations in identifying individuals with scapular-related neck pain and in the specificity and progression of exercise programs. This trial aims to investigate the effects of a Progressive Scapular-Focused Exercise Program (PSEP), compared with routine physical therapy, on neck pain intensity, neck disability, scapular muscle strength, scapular position, cervical range of motion, upper limb disability, and global perceived benefit in individuals with neck pain related to scapular dysfunction.

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.

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.
48

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

18 years to 59 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • nonspecific neck pain for at least 3 months
  • an average neck pain intensity over the past week ≥ 30 mm on a 100 mm visual analog scale (VAS)
  • a score of neck pain and disability ≥ 10/ 100 on the Neck Disability Index-Thai version
  • scapular dysfunction on the more painful side of neck pain
  • scapular dysfunction related to neck pain, based on improvements in cervical rotation range of motion and/or neck pain intensity following scapular repositioning test

Exclusion Criteria:

  • a history of head, neck and shoulder injury, trauma, fracture, or surgery
  • any neurological or musculoskeletal conditions that may affect upper extremity function or study outcomes
  • current shoulder or arm pain
  • receiving physiotherapy treatment for their neck conditions in the past 12 months
  • receiving specific exercises for the neck, shoulder, or scapular muscles in the last 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: Double

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: Progressive Scapular-Focused Exercise Program

Intervention group
Other: Progressive Scapular-Focused Exercise Program

The program includes axioscapular muscle stretching, axioscapular muscle control exercises, strengthening and endurance training of the axioscapular muscles, and postural correction during sitting, standing, walking, and upper-limb movements (approximately 45 minutes per session). Participants will attend 12 individual treatment sessions (2 visits per week for 6 weeks).
Active Comparator: Routine Physical Therapy Treatment

Control
Other: Routine Physical Therapy Treatment

The treatment includes routine physical therapy (e.g., modalities, range of motion and/or gentle stretching exercise) (approximately 45 minutes per session). The participants will attend 12 individual treatment sessions (2 visits per week for 6 weeks).

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 intensity
Time Frame: At baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up.

The average intensity of neck pain will be assessed using a 0-10 cm visual analogue scale (VAS), where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain.
At baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up.
Neck disability
Time Frame: At baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up.

The Neck Disability Index (NDI) will be used to assess the impact of neck pain on daily activities and self-reported disability. The questionnaire consists of 10 items, with a total score ranging from 0 to 50. Higher scores indicate greater neck-related disability.
At baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up.
Scapular muscle strength
Time Frame: At baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up.

Scapular muscle strength (lower trapezius and serratus anterior) will be assessed using a handheld dynamometer.
At baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up.
Scapular position
Time Frame: At baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up.

Scapular position will be assessed using the Lateral Scapular Slide Test.
At baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up.

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 range of motion
Time Frame: At baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up.

Cervical range of motion will be measured in degrees during flexion, extension, left and right lateral flexion, and left and right rotation.
At baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up.
Upper limb disability
Time Frame: At baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up.

Upper limb disability will be assessed using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of 30 items assessing symptoms and functional limitations of the arm, shoulder, and hand. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater disability.
At baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up.
Global perceived benefit of treatment
Time Frame: At baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up.

Global perceived benefit of treatment will be assessed using a 7-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (very dissatisfied) to 7 (very satisfied).
At baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up.

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.
University of Phayao

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.
January 1, 2027

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.
December 1, 2027

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 1, 2028

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).
November 4, 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.
November 5, 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.
November 12, 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.
November 12, 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.
November 5, 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.
November 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.
  • HREC-UP-HSST 1.2/157/69
  • 2394/2568 (Other Grant/Funding Number: University of Phayao and Thailand Science Research and Innovation Fund (Fundamental Fund 2026))

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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