Effectiveness of Exercise in the Treatment of Upper Cross Syndrome

The Effectiveness of Exercise on Neck Pain, Posture, Function and Quality of Life in Individuals With Upper Cross Syndrome: a Randomized Double Blind Control Study

Upper cross syndrome (UCS) is a common postural deformity characterized by a change in neck, torso and shoulder muscle activity and shoulder movement. UCS results in a shortening of the upper back and chest muscles as well as the muscles which provide movement to the shoulder blade. This is accompanied by weakness of the upper back muscles, shoulder blade stabilizor muscles and deep neck muscles. The resultant muscle imbalance leads to elevation of the shoulders, elongation of the neck and rounding of the back.

The change in posture which occurs in UCS changes the biomechanics of the neck and upper back and can results in neck pain, adverse effects on daily activities and productivity. To date, studies have been done on treatment of elongation of the neck using muscle relaxation techniques and manipulation of the local structures. To date, there is no study which investigates the efficacy of a specific exercise program targeting the muscles affected by UCS. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of UCS-specific exercises on neck-back pain, cervical posture, disability and quality of life.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Upper Cross Syndrome
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Physical therapy program with conventional neck strengthening exercises; Other: Physical therapy program with upper cross syndrome specific exercises

Detailed Description

Upper cross syndrome (UCS) is a common postural deformity characterised by a change in neck, torso and scapular muscle activity and scapular mobility. UCS results in a shortening of the upper trapezius, pectoralis majör and levator scapula muscles and weakness of the rhomboid, serratus anterior, middle and lower trapezii and deep cervical muscles such as the scalene muscles. The resultant muscle imbalance results in elevation and protraction of the shoulders, protraction of the neck and increase in kyphosis of the thoracic spine.

The change in posture seen in UCS reuslts in a change in the biomechanics of the vertebral bodies, neural arcus, musculature, faset joints, ligaments and discs which in turn can result in pain. Neck pain can negatively affect activities of daily living and function, causing disabiltiy and thus having a detrimental affect quality of life and productivity. Furthermore, studies have shown that UCS is frequently seen occuring in individuals with facet joint degeneration, myofacial pain syndrome and cervical radiculopathy. , In the literature, forward head position is treated craniocervical flexion training, muscle energy techniques, cervical coordination exercises, mobilization, manipulation and stabilization exercises. However, to date, there are no studies which investigate the effect of specific exercises aimed at resolving the muscle imblance which occurs in UCS. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of UCS-specific exercises on neck-back pain, cervical posture and alignment, disability and quality of life. ,

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria: Male and female patients between the ages of 30-50 years attending the outpatient clinic of our physical medicine and rehabilitation department with neck and back pain with upper cross syndrome on examination.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of cervical spine trauma or surgery
• Congenital postural deformity
• A history of inflammatory arthritis
• A diagnosis of torticollis, vertigo, pregnancy, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, heart failure, ischaemic heart disease, hypertension.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Neck strengthening exercises group; 10 sessions of physical therapy over two weeks.Each session will consist of 20 minutes of hotpack and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and 10minutes of therapeutic ultrasound. Exercise sessions lasting 20minutes will consist of conventional neck isometric strengthening exercises under the supervision of a single physiotherapist. These exercises will be repeated 5 times each, twice daily. A brochure depicting each exercise,accompanied by a description,will be given to the patient.The patient will continue with the exercise program for 3 months and be reminded once a week via telephone.	Other: Physical therapy program with conventional neck strengthening exercises; Ten physical therapy sessions consisting of electrotherapy and conventional neck strenthening exercises
Experimental: Upper Cross Syndrome exercises group; 10sessions of physical therapy over two weeks.Each session will consist of 20minutes of hotpack and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and 10minutes of therapeutic ultrasound.Exercise sessions lasting 20minutes will consist of stretching and strengthening exercises under the supervision of a single physiotherapist.Strengthening exercises for the deep neck flexors,upper and middle trapezius,serratus anterior will be performed by the patient.Ten repetitions of each exercise,three times daily will be recommended.Stretching exercises will include those for the upper trapezius,pectoralis majör,levator scapula,suboccipital and sternocleidemastoid muscles and izometric neck flexion-extension exercises.These will be repeated 5times each,twice daily.A brochure depicting each exercise,accompanied by a description,will be given to the patient.The patient will continue with the exercise program for 3 months and be reminded once a week via telephone.	Other: Physical therapy program with upper cross syndrome specific exercises; Ten physical therapy sessions consisting of electrotherapy and upper cross syndrome -specific exercise program.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Visual analogue scale measurement of severity of neck pain	A subjective measure of neck pain severity in the past week measured using a visual analogue scale from 0-100mm. 0mm signifies no pain, 100mm signifies the worst pain imaginable.	Before physcial therapy treatment is commenced, after 10 sessions of physical therapy has been completed (2 weeks after commencement of therapy), three months after physical therapy has been completed.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Neck disability index (NDI)	A subjective measure of effect of neck pain on disability and activities of daily living. A ten part questionnaire on intensity of neck pain, effects of neck pain on self-care, heavy lifting, association between neck pain and headaches, ability to work and sleep. Each question scores between 0-5 with an increase in score signifying worsening disablity.	Before physcial therapy treatment is commenced, three months after physical therapy has been completed.
Nottingham Health Profile (NHP)	A quality of life measure focusing on the effects of a health issue on daily activities. Measures of pain and energy levels, emotional wellbeing, sleep quality, social isolation and physical activity are conducted. A total score between 0-600 is obtained. Higher scores signify poorer quality of life. ,	Before physcial therapy treatment is commenced, three months after physical therapy has been completed.
Goniometric measurement of cervical range of motion	Goniometric measurement of cervical flexion and extension	Before physcial therapy treatment is commenced, three months after physical therapy has been completed.
Occiput to wall distance and tragus to wall distance	Measurement of the distance between the occiput and wall and tragus and wall in the sagittal plane when standing with feet against wall, head in the neutral position as a measure of cervical mobility and thoracic kyphosis.	Before physcial therapy treatment is commenced, three months after physical therapy has been completed.
Radiographic evaluation of cervical posture and cervicothoracic alignment: Measure of cervical lordotic angle	Cervical lordotic angle will be evaluated by measuring the Cobb angle and absolute rotation angle (ARA). Cobb angle will be measured using a lateral cervical radiograph. A line will be drawn parallel to the C2 and C7 vertebral endplate. A second line will bisect these lines. The angle between the two bisecting lines is the Cobb angle. The ARA is formed by the intersection of tangents drawn at the posterior body margins of C2 and C7. To investigate the position of the head in the sagittal plane and sagittal alignment of the spine, the sagittal vertical axis (SVA) - distance between the posterior superior corner of C7 and a plumb line dropped from C2 - will be measured.	Before physcial therapy treatment is commenced, three months after physical therapy has been completed.
Radiographic evaluation of cervicothoracic alignment	SCA refers to a new sagittal parameter, defined as the angle between a line from the sella turcica center and C7 endplate and the C7 plateau line.	Before physcial therapy treatment is commenced, three months after physical therapy has been completed.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Baskent University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): January 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 6, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 14, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): December 29, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 29, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 14, 2023
• Last Verified: December 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: neck pain; posture; cervicalgia; upper cross syndrome; posture balance; forward head position; pain ,cervical
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Disease; Syndrome
• Other Study ID Numbers: KA23/139

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No