INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF POSTURAL EXERCISES AND TAPING (OFFICE WORKERS)

March 18, 2026 updated by: Ozden Baskan, Istanbul Rumeli University

INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF POSTURAL EXERCISES AND TAPING IN OFFICE WORKERS WITH CHRONIC NECK PAIN

The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate and compare the efficacy of Kinesio Taping (KT) and a structured exercise program on pain, disability, balance, and psychosocial well-being in desk-based office workers with chronic neck pain.

Background:

Prolonged sedentary work, particularly desk jobs exceeding six hours per day, is a significant risk factor for chronic neck pain and postural dysfunction. This study focuses on employees of the Kocaeli Governorate to determine which conservative intervention-active (exercise) or passive/supportive (taping)-provides superior clinical outcomes.

Methods:

A total of 45 volunteers (minimum 15 per group) aged 25-55, who work at desks for at least six hours a day and suffer from chronic neck pain, will be enrolled. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups for a 4-week intervention period:

Kinesio Taping Group: Participants will receive therapeutic taping for the cervical region.

Exercise Group: Participants will undergo a structured program focusing on neck stabilization and postural correction.

Control Group: Participants will receive no active intervention and will maintain their routine activities.

Outcome Measures:

Comprehensive assessments will be conducted at baseline and at the end of the 4-week program:

Pain & Disability: Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Neck Disability Index (NDI).

Physical Performance: Balance tests and Deep Neck Flexor Endurance test.

Psychosocial Status: Quality of Life (SF-36) and depression levels (Beck Depression Inventory).

Study Overview

Status

Enrolling by invitation

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

40

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

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:

  • Those who have had neck pain for at least 3 months, Those who have worked at a desk for at least 3 years, Those who work at a computer for at least 6 hours or more a day during working hours, Those who sign the voluntary consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals who have received any physiotherapy program due to neck or back pain within the last 3 months, those with acute torticollis, those who have undergone cervical spine surgery, those with a history of fractures in the cervical vertebrae, those with conditions that will prevent evaluation or communication (such as cognitive problems), individuals with proven specific pathological conditions such as malignancy, fracture, systemic rheumatoid disease, or other musculoskeletal problems that may also affect the cervical region, such as impingement and thoracic outlet, those allergic to kinesiobands

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
Experimental: kinesiotape group
Participants in this group undergo Kinesio Taping treatment to correct kyphosis.
Other: kinesiotape
Neck kinesiotape will be applied by a physiotherapist
Active Comparator: exercise group
neck and posture exercises were given to the participants.
Other: Exercise
Neck and posture exercises will be given to the participants Third times a week for four weeks.
No Intervention: Control
Control group didnt attend any program or intervention

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Depression
Time Frame: Baseline and at the end of treatment (Week 4)
Beck Depression ınventory:The form contains 21 symptom categories, each with 4 options. Each item is scored between 0 and 3. The highest possible score is 63. Individuals scoring 17 points or higher are reported to have severe depressive symptoms requiring treatment.
Baseline and at the end of treatment (Week 4)
Balance test
Time Frame: Baseline and at the end of treatment (week 4)
The single-leg stance test will be used to assess balance. The individual is asked to stand on their dominant leg with their hands at their sides, then lift their leg, bending their knee joint at approximately a 45° angle, and start a stopwatch in this position. Individuals are asked to continue the test for the maximum time without losing their balance. The test ends when balance is lost, and the time is recorded in seconds.
Baseline and at the end of treatment (week 4)
Deep flexor endurance test
Time Frame: Baseline and at the end of treatment (week 4)
The 'Cervical Deep Flexor Muscle Endurance Test' is used. The test was performed in a supine hook position. The participants' hands were placed loosely on their abdomen. The person was instructed to pull their chin inward (chin tuck) and, while maintaining this position, to lift their head off the bed.
Baseline and at the end of treatment (week 4)
SF 36 Quality of life
Time Frame: Baseline and at the end of treatment (week 4)
The Short Form-36 (SF-36) is a scale consisting of 36 questions that assess a person's health status with 8 sub-items (physical function (FF), physical health (FS), emotional problems (DS), energy fatigue (EF), emotional state (DD), social function (SF), pain (A), general health (GS)). Each sub-item is scored separately on a scale of 0-100. The closer the score is to 100, the better the health status.
Baseline and at the end of treatment (week 4)
Pain Assessment
Time Frame: Baseline and at the end of treatment (week 4)
Visual pain Assessment is used. Individuals were asked to indicate the intensity of the pain they felt on a 10 cm long scale (0: no pain, 10: unbearable pain).
Baseline and at the end of treatment (week 4)
Disability
Time Frame: Baseline and at the end of treatment (week 4)
Neck disability index is used.The questionnaire, which assesses subjective symptoms and daily living activities, consists of 10 sections in total (pain intensity, personal care, lifting, reading, headache, concentration, work life, driving, sleep, and leisure activities). Each section has 6 items ranging from 0 to 5 points. The total score ranges from 0 to 50 (0: no disability; 50: maximum disability).
Baseline and at the end of treatment (week 4)

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Istanbul Rumeli 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 (Estimated)

March 15, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 25, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

April 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 15, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 18, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 20, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 18, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • E-53938333-050-56099

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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