Contrology Training in Patients With Non-Specific Neck Pain (CT-NSNP)

Effects of Contrology Training on Pain, Cervical Range of Motion, Disability, and Craniovertebral Angle in Patients With Non-Specific Neck Pain

This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the effects of a 12-week Contrology training program in patients with non-specific neck pain. Participants will be randomly allocated into two groups. The experimental group will receive Contrology training, while the control group will receive conventional physiotherapy. Outcomes will include pain intensity, cervical range of motion, neck-related disability, and craniovertebral angle. Assessments will be performed at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks. The study aims to determine whether Contrology training is more effective than conventional physiotherapy in improving pain, posture, mobility, and functional disability in adults with non-specific neck pain.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Non Specific Neck Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Contrology Training; Other: Conventional Physiotherapy

Detailed Description

Non-specific neck pain is a common musculoskeletal condition that may lead to pain, restricted cervical movement, functional disability, and altered head and neck posture. Forward head posture, commonly assessed through craniovertebral angle, is frequently associated with neck pain and may contribute to increased mechanical load on cervical structures. Exercise-based rehabilitation is commonly used for the management of non-specific neck pain; however, the effects of Contrology training on pain, cervical range of motion, disability, and craniovertebral angle require further investigation.

This study is designed as a single-center, two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial. A total of 40 participants with non-specific neck pain will be recruited and randomly allocated into two equal groups. Group A will receive Contrology training, and Group B will receive conventional physiotherapy. The intervention period will be 12 weeks. Participants will be assessed at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks.

The primary outcome will be craniovertebral angle, measured using standardized lateral-view digital photography. Secondary outcomes will include pain intensity measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, neck-related disability measured by the Neck Disability Index, and cervical range of motion measured using a digital inclinometer and/or universal goniometer. The study will compare changes within each group over time and between groups to determine the effectiveness of Contrology training compared with conventional physiotherapy.

These points match your thesis protocol: randomized trial, 40 participants, Contrology versus conventional physiotherapy, and outcomes including NPRS, NDI, CVA, and cervical ROM assessed across baseline, 4, 8, and 12 weeks.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Samrood Akram, PhD*; Phone Number: 03324806143; Email: samrood.akram@riphah.edu.pk
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Amna Zia, PhD*; Phone Number: 03244686993; Email: amna.zia@kemu.edu.pk

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab Province
    • Shakargarh, Punjab Province, Pakistan
      • Maqbool memorial hospital, Shakargarh.
      • Contact: Muhammad Ali; Phone Number: 03000467607; Email: muhammadali@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Inclusion Criteria:
• Adults aged 18 to 40 years.
• Participants diagnosed with non-specific neck pain.
• Neck pain duration of at least 4 weeks.
• Numeric Pain Rating Scale score of at least 3 out of 10.
• Craniovertebral angle less than 49 degrees.
• Participants willing to provide informed consent and attend the treatment sessions.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy.
• Cervical spinal stenosis.
• History of cervical spine fracture, trauma, or surgery.
• Inflammatory joint disease or systemic rheumatologic disorder.
• Neurological disorders affecting neck movement or posture.
• Vestibular disorders or severe balance problems.
• Any serious medical condition preventing participation in exercise-based treatment.
• Current participation in another neck pain rehabilitation program.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Contrology Training Group; Participants in this group will receive a 12-week Contrology training program for non-specific neck pain. The program will include supervised Contrology/Pilates-based exercises focusing on cervical and thoracic mobility, postural alignment, breathing control, core activation, scapular stabilization, and controlled movement.	Other: Contrology Training; Contrology training is a Pilates-based exercise program emphasizing concentration, control, centering, breathing, precision, and flowing movement. Participants will perform supervised exercises targeting postural correction, cervical and thoracic mobility, deep cervical flexor activation, scapular stabilization, core control, and controlled breathing for 12 weeks.
Active Comparator: Conventional Physiotherapy Group; Participants in this group will receive conventional physiotherapy for non-specific neck pain for 12 weeks. The treatment will include routine physiotherapy exercises and management commonly used for neck pain, including stretching, strengthening, posture correction, and cervical mobility exercises.	Other: Conventional Physiotherapy; Conventional physiotherapy will include routine exercise-based management for non-specific neck pain, including cervical range of motion exercises, stretching, strengthening exercises, postural correction, and patient education. Treatment will be provided for 12 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Craniovertebral Angle	Craniovertebral angle will be measured using standardized lateral-view digital photography. The angle will be calculated between a horizontal line passing through the C7 spinous process and a line connecting C7 to the tragus of the ear. A higher craniovertebral angle indicates improved head and neck posture, while a lower angle indicates greater forward head posture.	Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Numeric Pain Rating Scale	Pain intensity will be measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale. Participants will rate their neck pain on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst possible pain. A lower score indicates less pain.	Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks
Neck Disability Index	Neck-related disability will be measured using the Neck Disability Index. The questionnaire includes 10 sections related to pain and daily activities. Higher scores indicate greater neck-related disability, while lower scores indicate less disability.	Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks
Cervical Range of Motions	These will be assessed with a Universal goniometer	Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Riphah International University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Amna Zia, Mayo Hospital/ College of Physiotherapy, King Edward Medical University, Lahore; Principal Investigator: Ailia Abbas, Riphah International University, Lahore

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): June 30, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 21, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 21, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 24, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 21, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Pilates; Neck Disability Index; Numeric Pain Rating Scale; Forward Head Posture; Craniovertebral Angle; Non Specific Neck Pain; Cervical Range of Motion; Contrology Training
• Other Study ID Numbers: F24C14G30031 (Ailia Abbas)

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