Upper Trapezius Stretching in Patients With Cervical Spondylosis

Efficacy of Upper Trapezius Stretching on Neck Pain, Range of Motion and Disability in Patients With Cervical Spondylosis: A Randomised Controlled Trial

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of upper trapezius stretching exercises on pain intensity, neck range of motion, and disability in patients with cervical spondylosis. Patients with diagnosed cervical spondylosis will be randomly assigned to either a study group performing upper trapezius stretches or a control group. Both groups will receive heat treatment and strengthening exercises. The study group will additionally perform specific upper trapezius stretching exercises. Outcomes measures will be assessed before and after 4 weeks of intervention and will include neck pain intensity, range of motion, and disability using the Neck Disability Index. The study hypothesizes that the study group will demonstrate greater improvements in pain, range of motion, and disability compared to the control group. The study findings could provide data to guide physical therapy management of cervical spondylosis.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Cervical Spondylosis
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Upper fibers of trapezius stretching; Other: Standard care

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 64
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Mohamed M ElMeligie, Ph.d; Phone Number: +201064442032; Email: mohamed.elmeligie@acu.edu.eg

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Giza
    • Al Ḩayy Ath Thāmin, Giza, Egypt, 3221405
      • Recruiting
      • Outpatient clinic of faculty of physical therapy, Ahram Canadian University
      • Contact: Mohamed M ElMeligie, Ph.d; Phone Number: 01064442032; Email: mohamed.elmeligie@acu.edu.eg

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of cervical spondylosis confirmed by orthopedic specialist
• Presence of neck pain for at least 3 months
• willingness to participate in the study and comply with the intervention

Exclusion Criteria:

• Recent neck trauma or fractures (within 6 months)
• Previous neck surgery
• Concurrent medical conditions that could affect neck pain and range of motion (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis)
• Concurrent physical therapy or rehabilitation for neck or shoulder
• Use of corticosteroids within past 3 months
• Pregnancy or serious circulatory conditions (due to use of heat pack)
• Known hypersensitivity to heat or cold
• Cognitive impairment that could interfere with ability to understand and complete self-report questionnaires and comply with interventions

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention group	Other: Upper fibers of trapezius stretching; The Upper fibers of trapezius stretching intervention involves specific stretching exercises designed to target the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle. The stretching exercises will be performed under the guidance of a licensed physical therapist and will involve extending the neck while gently pulling the head downward to stretch the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle. The intervention is designed to improve neck range of motion, reduce pain intensity, and reduce disability in patients with cervical spondylosis. The duration and frequency of the stretching exercises will be standardized across participants, and adherence will be monitored throughout the study period.; Other: Standard care; The Control Group in this study will receive standard care, including heat treatment and strengthening exercises, but will not receive the specific Upper fibers of trapezius stretching intervention that is being tested in the Treatment Group.
Active Comparator: Control group	Other: Standard care; The Control Group in this study will receive standard care, including heat treatment and strengthening exercises, but will not receive the specific Upper fibers of trapezius stretching intervention that is being tested in the Treatment Group.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in Neck pain intensity	elf-reported pain intensity in the neck region using a numerical rating scale (NRS).	Changes in neck pain intensity at baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention and 3 months
Changes in Neck range of motion	Degree of neck flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation using a goniometer.	Changes in neck range of motion at baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention and 3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in Neck Disability Index	Self-reported disability due to neck pain based on a 10-item questionnaire covering pain intensity, personal care, lifting, reading, headaches, concentration, work, driving, sleeping and recreation. Scored from 0-50, higher scores indicate greater disability.	Changes in Neck Disability Index at baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention and 3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ahram Canadian University
• Investigators: Study Director: Amal Fawzy, Ph.d, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Ahram Canadian University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): June 28, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 17, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 17, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): June 27, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 27, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 17, 2023
• Last Verified: June 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases; Spinal Diseases; Bone Diseases; Spondylosis
• Other Study ID Numbers: 012/7780002023

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