Physiotherapy in Chronic Neck Pain

May 3, 2025 updated by: Kevser Gürsan, Uşak University

Investigation of the Effects of Different Physiotherapy Approaches Applied to Patients With Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain on Pain Level, Grip Strength and Manual Dexterity: A Randomized Controlled Trial

In this randomized controlled experimental study design, it was aimed to examine whether different treatment approaches frequently applied in physical therapy clinics have an effect on pain, hand grip strength and hand skills by applying them to individuals with CNNP. For this purpose, the following hypotheses were created.

H1: Standard physiotherapy intervention and home exercises have an effect on reducing the pain intensity of individuals with CNNP H2: Standard physiotherapy intervention and home exercises have an effect on increasing the hand grip strength of individuals with CNNP.

H3: Standard physiotherapy intervention and home exercises have an effect on increasing the hand skills of individuals with CNNP.

H4: Trigger point therapy and home exercises have an effect on reducing the pain intensity of individuals with CNNP.

H5: Trigger point therapy and home exercises have an effect on increasing the hand grip strength of individuals with CNNP.

H6: Trigger point therapy and home exercises have an effect on increasing the hand skills of individuals with CNNP.

H7: Kinesiology Taping treatment and home exercises have an effect on reducing the pain intensity of individuals with CNNP.

H8: Kinesiology Taping treatment and home exercises have an effect on increasing the hand grip strength of individuals with CNNP.

H9: Kinesiology Taping treatment and home exercises have an effect on increasing the manual skills of individuals with CNNP.

H10: Cervical - Scapular Mobilization and home exercises have an effect on reducing the pain intensity of individuals with CNNP.

H11: Cervical - Scapular Mobilization and home exercises have an effect on increasing the hand grip strength of individuals with CNNP.

H12: Cervical - Scapular Mobilization and home exercises have an effect on increasing the manual skills of individuals with CNNP.

4 different groups will be created in this study. These are Group 1: Standard physiotherapy intervention and home exercises Group 2: Trigger point therapy and home exercises Group 3: Kinesiology Taping therapy and home exercises Group 4: Cervical - Scapular Mobilization and home exercises

Study Overview

Status

Enrolling by invitation

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Neck pain is one of the musculoskeletal disorders with a high prevalence in the adult population. Its prevalence in the world varies between 16.7% and 75.1% and is generally more common in women than in men. Neck pain is a public health problem that should be considered in terms of individual health and general well-being as well as health expenditures. As a result of ignoring neck pain, neck pain becomes chronic. Neck pain, which significantly affects the quality of life of individuals with chronic neck pain (CNP), causes restrictions in movement and decreases in upper extremity functions. In particular, the functions of the hand, which are indicators of upper extremity functions frequently used in daily life activities, are the functions of the hand. Studies have found that individuals with chronic neck pain have decreased grip strength and psychomotor skills compared to healthy individuals. Based on this, various treatment methods have been applied to individuals with CNP in many similar studies in the literature to reduce the level of pain, prevent disability, increase performance in daily life activities and increase joint range of motion. There is no study that examines whether the various physical therapy methods frequently applied in this clinic have an effect on the grip strength and manual dexterity of individuals with CNNP by applying them together comparatively. In this context, four different groups will be formed for the research. The first group will receive standard physiotherapy intervention, the second group will receive trigger point therapy for the neck region, the third group will receive kinesiology taping, and the fourth group will receive cervical and scapular mobilization treatment methods. Individuals in all four groups will be advised to do daily home exercise programs and told to apply them. The applications will be applied four times a week for four weeks, for a total of 16 sessions. Then, before and after the application, neck pain levels of individuals with CNNP, fine hand skills evaluation, and grip strength measurements will be made. Thus, it will be found out whether these different treatment approaches will reduce the pain intensity of individuals with CNNP, whether grip strength, which is an important indicator of upper extremity performance, is increased, and whether fine hand skills will be improved. The purpose of this study; It will be determined whether different physiotherapy approaches applied to individuals with chronic nonspecific neck pain have an effect on the individuals' pain level, grip strength and manual skills. The results will reveal how different physiotherapy interventions can play a role in pain management and improving upper extremity performance in individuals with CNNP. Similar studies conducted today will be examined with the results we obtain and various solution suggestions will be presented.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

80

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Turkey
      • Yozgat, Turkey, 66000
        • Yozgat Bozok University Health Application and Research Center

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Being 18-64 years old,
  • Having neck pain for 3 months or more,
  • being literate, being a volunteer

Exclusion Criteria:

  • having musculoskeletal injuries in the neck-shoulder area,
  • having neurological or orthopedic problems,
  • having cancer, having musculoskeletal malformations,
  • having had head and neck surgery,
  • having received physical therapy due to neck pain in the last 6 months
  • not accepting to participate in the study,
  • being pregnant,
  • individuals with hearing and visual impairments

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
Intervention / Treatment
Other: Group 1
Group 1: Standard physiotherapy intervention and home exercises
Other: Standard physiotherapy intervention and home exercises
Various physical agents such as electrotherapy, hotpack (warm compress) and ultrasound therapy will be used within the standard physiotherapy intervention. These approaches are effective methods to reduce pain, relax muscles and accelerate healing. Home exercises are daily neck exercises recommended by a specialist physiotherapist.
Experimental: Group 2
Group 2: Trigger point therapy and home exercises
Other: Trigger point therapy and home exercises
Trigger point therapy is a common method used in patients with myofascial pain syndrome. This method involves manually releasing trigger points. Approaches such as pressure applications and stretching techniques are used. Muscle functions are improved by loosening painful muscle knots. Muscle flexibility and endurance are increased with home exercises.
Experimental: Group 3
Group 3: Kinesiology Taping therapy and home exercises
Other: Kinesiology Taping therapy and home exercises

Kinesiology taping is an elastic band technique used for pain management and muscle activity support. It accelerates healing by increasing blood circulation. It supports and protects the muscles in the neck and shoulder area.

It provides supportive stabilization without restricting joint movements. It facilitates movement by reducing pain. It targets muscle strengthening and mobilization with home exercises
Experimental: Group 4
Group 4: Cervical - Scapular Mobilization and home exercises:
Other: Cervical - Scapular Mobilization and home exercises
Cervical and scapular mobilization includes manual therapy techniques aimed at increasing the range of motion of the joints in the spine and shoulder area. Mobilization is applied to the cervical spine and shoulder joints. Relaxation is provided in the muscles around the shoulder and neck. Cervical and scapular stability is improved. Postural disorders are corrected and range of motion is increased. Sustainability of mobilization is ensured with home exercises.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain assessment
Time Frame: Four weeks
Pain assessment will be made with Visual Analog Scale (VAS). VAS was developed by Price et al. in 1983 for the assessment of subjective pain and is a reliable and easy-to-apply scale that has been accepted in the world literature. VAS is a scale with two different names on the vertical or horizontal line, 10 cm long (0=I have no pain - I am very comfortable and 10=The most unbearable pain).
Four weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Grip Strength Assessment
Time Frame: Four weeks
Grip strength assessment will be done with Jamar hand dinanometer. Measurements will be made 3 times with the Hand Dynamometer and the average will be taken. Hand Dynamometer is accepted as the gold standard for measuring grip strength. Measurement will be made for both hands (right and left).
Four weeks
Fine motor skills assessment
Time Frame: Four weeks
Fine manual dexterity assessment will be done with the Nine-Hole Peg Test. NHPT consists of a 9-hole platform and 9 rods. The platform will be placed directly in front of the individuals and the rods will be adjusted so that the holes are on the dominant hand side of the individuals and the holes are on the non-dominant hand side. After the test rules are explained to the individuals, they will be given the opportunity to practice before the application. Individuals will be asked to insert the rods into the board as quickly as possible. Test results will be recorded by measuring the time from the moment the individuals touch the first rod until the last rod is inserted into the platform with a stopwatch. Then, they will be asked to remove the 9 rods one by one with the same hand and the removal time will be recorded. The test will be applied to the non-dominant hand using the same method; this time, the platform will be rotated in front of the non-dominant hand.
Four weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Uşak University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Kevser Gursan, Dr., Uşak 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 (Actual)

April 25, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 25, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 25, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 26, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 26, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

May 4, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 7, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 3, 2025

Last Verified

May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 585-585-07

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

In order to protect participant confidentiality and comply with the confidentiality commitment approved by the ethics committee, no sharing of individual-level data is planned. In addition, the ethics committee decision that approved the study covers data use with limited access only. Therefore, it may not be possible to share IPD data publicly.

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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