Comparative Effects of Egoscue and Feldenkrais Exercises on in Upper Cross Syndrome

Comparative Effects of Egoscue and Feldenkrais Exercises on Pain, Craniovertebral Angle and Functional Disability in Upper Cross Syndrome

Upper cross syndrome is a common postural dysfunction that is caused due to alternating tightness and weakness in the opposite muscle groups of the neck, shoulders and upper back which results in abnormal postural deviations. The aim of the study will be to compare the effects of Egoscue exercises and Feldenkrais exercises on pain, craniovertebral angle and functional disability in upper cross syndrome.

A Randomized clinical trial will be conducted at Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital, Lahore and Riphah clinic, Lahore through non probability convenience sampling technique on 54 patients which will be allocated using simple random sampling through sealed opaque envelop into Group A and Group B. Group A will be treated with Egoscue exercises and conventional therapy and Group B will be treated with Feldenkrais exercises and conventional therapy at the frequency of 3 sets with 10 repetitions thrice a week. Outcome measures will be conducted through pain, craniovertebral angle and functional disability after 4 weeks. Data will be analyzed with SPSS software version 26. After assessing the normality of data by Shapiro-Wilk test, it will be decided either parametric or non- parametric will be used within the group or between the groups.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Upper Cross Syndrome
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Egoscue exercises; Other: Feldenkrais exercises

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 48
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: iqbal Tariq, phd; Phone Number: 03338236752; Email: iqbal.tariq@riphah.edu.pk
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Rabiya Noor, phd; Phone Number: 03344355660; Email: Rabiya.Noor@riphah.edu.pk

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab Province
    • Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 54000
      • Recruiting
      • Rabiya Noor

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 25 to 45 years
• Both genders (male and female)
• Chronic neck pain for more than three months - NPRS (3 to 7)
• Craniovertebral angle less than 50 degrees
• Tight Pectoralis muscle and trapezius
• Weak rhomboids and deep neck flexors

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any malignancy related to soft tissue and shoulder joint
• Congenital joint deformity
• Recent fractures to joint
• Recent surgery of shoulder joint or associated structures
• Patients with shoulder dislocation

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: Egoscue exercises	Other: Egoscue exercises; Static Back (for 5 - 10 minutes); Cervical retractions (10- 15 reps); Wall Angels (2 sets of 10); Standing arm circles (40 forward reps & 40 backward reps); Static wall (for 5-8 minutes); Modified pre stretch on wall (Hold for 30- 45 secs on each side); Air bench (for 1- 2 minutes); Tower shoulder rolls (stay for 10 minutes)
Active Comparator: Feldenkrais exercises	Other: Feldenkrais exercises; Shoulder Circles with awareness; Head Rolls with Breath awareness; Arm Clock (Arm circles on the floor); Scapular Glides; Pelvic clock with shoulder integration; Shoulder blades and arm lifting

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Disability Index (DNI)	This questionnaire will be used to asses disability. It comprises of 10 items; 7 related to daily living activities; 2 related to pain and 1 related to concentration. Each item is scored from 0 to 5. Total score is expressed as a percentage, with higher scores related to greater disability. Minimum detectable change measurements vary from 4.2 to 13.4, and minimum clinically important differences vary from 5 and 9.5	6th week
Craniovertebral angle (CVA)	Craniovertebral angle can be measured with Image J software. If the angle is less than 50 degrees (< 50 degree). The angle will be between tragus of the ear to cervical spinous process C7.	6th week

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Riphah International University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: areesha shakeel, MSPT(CP), Riphah International University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Jeong GH, Lee BH. Effects of Telerehabilitation Combining Diaphragmatic Breathing Re-Education and Shoulder Stabilization Exercises on Neck Pain, Posture, and Function in Young Adult Men with Upper Crossed Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Med. 2024 Mar 11;13(6):1612. doi: 10.3390/jcm13061612.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 15, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 1, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 4, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 5, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 5, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 4, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: upper cross syndrome; Craniovertebral angle,
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Oculocerebral hypopigmentation syndrome type Preus
• Other Study ID Numbers: REC/RCR&AHS/25/0111

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