Relationship Between Muscle Oxygenation and Upper Extremity Exercise Capacity in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain

Investigation of the Relationship Between Muscle Oxygenation and Upper Extremity Exercise Capacity, Respiratory and Peripheral Muscle Strength, and Activities of Daily Living in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between upper extremity exercise capacity and muscle oxygenation, muscle strength, and activities of daily living in patients with chronic neck pain.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Chronic Neck Pain

Detailed Description

Neck pain is an important public health problem that causes disability worldwide Chronic neck pain is defined as the presence of pain in an individual's neck area for more than twelve weeks. Chronic neck pain negatively affects the daily living activities of the individual; functional limitation causes job loss.

Neck pain has been observed to be associated with the trapezius muscle and impaired microcirculation in the trapezius muscle and inadequate muscle blood flow and oxygenation.

In addition, neck pain has been stated to reduce upper extremity performance. However, most of the results regarding the relationship between muscle activity and pain are not consistent. In addition, there are studies showing that respiratory muscles as well as peripheral muscles are affected in these patients. In the light of all this information, it was concluded that there may be a relationship between upper extremity exercise capacity and the oxygen level of the trapezius muscle and activities of daily living in patients with chronic neck pain. In this context, the aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between upper extremity exercise capacity and muscle oxygenation, muscle strength and activities of daily living in patients with chronic neck pain.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 51

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Kırşehir, Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Center, Cardiopulmonary Unit

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients between the ages of 18-65 who have had neck pain for at least 12 weeks, who were followed up in the Physical Therapy Outpatient Clinic of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation will be included in the study.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with neck pain lasting at least 3 months due to one of the following problems: cervical strain or sprain, cervical disc lesions, cervical spondylosis, facet joint dysfunction, and myofascial pain syndrome.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Neck pain intensity during activity is below 3 points according to the Visual Analog Scale
• Upper extremity motor deficit on neurological examination
• Any surgery related to neck problems
• Cervical radiculopathy
• Any upper extremity surgery
• Any rheumatic and/or neurological disease or any disease affecting the vestibular system

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Chronic Neck Pain Group; Individuals between the ages of 18-65 who have had neck pain for at least 12 weeks, who were followed up in the Physical Therapy Outpatient Clinic of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation will be included in the study.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Evaluation of Trapezius Muscle Oxygen Saturation	Patients' trapezius muscle oxygen saturation will be measured using a near infrared spectroscopy (Moxy® monitor (Moxy, Fortiori Design LLC, Minnesota, USA)).	Day 1
Evaluation of upper extremity capacity	Patients' upper extremity functional exercise capacity will be evaluated with six-minute pegboard and ring test.	Day 1

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Evaluation of peripheral muscle strength	Patients' shoulder abductor and shoulder flexor, elbow flexor and upper trapezius muscle strength will be evaluated with a portable hand dynamometer (KFORCE Muscle Controller®, KinventTM, France).	Day 2
Evaluation of respiratory muscle strength	An electronic mouth pressure device in accordance with American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society criteria will be used to evaluate respiratory muscle strength (Micro Medical MicroRM, UK).	Day 2
Evaluation of activity of daily living	The Glittre activity of daily living test will be used to evaluate patients' activities of daily living.	Day 2
Evaluation of upper extremity functional status	Upper Extremity Functional Index will be used to evaluate the upper extremity functional status of the patients.	Day 1

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Başak KAVALCI KOL, PhD, Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 24, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): January 10, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 17, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 17, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): November 21, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 3, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 30, 2026
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: upper extremity; muscle oxygenation; chronic neck pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: AhiEvranU530

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