Neck Exercises After Thyroid Surgery

Effect of Postoperative Neck Range-of-Motion and Isometric Strengthening Exercises on Neck Pain and Early-Stage Quality of Life After Thyroidectomy

Postoperative neck pain is common after thyroidectomy and may impair early recovery. This prospective randomized controlled study aimed to evaluate the effects of postoperative neck range-of-motion (ROM) and isometric strengthening exercises on neck pain and early-stage quality of life in patients undergoing thyroidectomy. Between November 2024 and April 2025, 93 patients who underwent thyroidectomy were enrolled. Surgical indications included multinodular goiter, Graves' disease, and fine-needle aspiration biopsy results classified as Bethesda categories III-VI. Patients were randomized into an intervention group (n = 48) and a control group (n = 45). Patients in the intervention group performed cervical ROM and isometric strengthening exercises from postoperative day 1 to day 10, while the control group received standard postoperative care without a structured exercise program. Both groups were evaluated on postoperative days 1 and 10. Pain severity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and quality of life was assessed using the Neck Pain, Discomfort, and Early-Stage Quality of Life Questionnaire (NPDEPQ).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Thyroidectomy; Quality of Life (QOL); Cervical Range of Motion; Postoperative Neck Pain; Isometric Exercises
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Postoperative Neck Exercise Program

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 93
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Istanbul
    • Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye), 34096
      • Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Surgery

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged 18 years or older
• Patients who underwent thyroidectomy for multinodular goiter, Graves' disease, or fine-needle aspiration biopsy results classified as Bethesda categories III, IV, V, or VI
• Ability to understand and comply with the study protocol
• Provision of written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age younger than 18 years
• History of previous neck surgery
• Cervical disc herniation
• Parathyroidectomy
• Hashimoto's thyroiditis
• Refusal to provide written informed consent

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: Postoperative Neck Exercise Program; Patients received a structured postoperative neck range-of-motion and isometric strengthening exercise program in addition to standard postoperative care.	Other: Postoperative Neck Exercise Program; A structured postoperative program including neck range-of-motion and isometric strengthening exercises, initiated on postoperative day 1 and performed for 10 consecutive days, three times daily.
No Intervention: Standard Postoperative Care; Patients received standard postoperative care without a structured exercise program.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Postoperative Neck Pain	Postoperative neck pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), where scores range from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Assessments were performed on postoperative day 1 before discharge and on postoperative day 10 during follow-up by a blinded outcome assessor.	Postoperative day 1 and postoperative day 10

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Neck Discomfort and Early-Stage Quality of Life	Neck discomfort and early-stage quality of life were evaluated using the Neck Pain, Discomfort, and Early-Stage Quality of Life Questionnaire (NPDEPQ). Assessments were conducted on postoperative day 1 and postoperative day 10 by a blinded outcome assessor.	Postoperative day 1 and postoperative day 10

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Mertcan Ak, MD, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Surgery

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 8, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): April 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 3, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 15, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 17, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 15, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: quality of life; thyroidectomy; cervical range of motion; isometric exercises; postoperative neck pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared.

Drug and device information, study documents

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