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Core Stability vs Scapular Stabilization on Hand Grip Strength in Chronic Myofascial Neck Pain

8 de julio de 2026 actualizado por: Adnan Abdelkhalik Atwa Gharib, Cairo University

Core Stability Exercises Versus Scapular Stabilization Exercises on Hand Grip Strength in Patients With Chronic Myofascial Neck Pain

Chronic myofascial neck pain (CMNP) is a painful non-articular musculoskeletal neck syndrome that is a persistent and prevalent with a high incidence of recurrence rate range 30-93%.Management of myofascial trigger points were directed at its deactivation, and prevention of its recurrence. Based on mechanical kinetic chain, the upper extremity functions as a unique system of connected segments those collaborated in a harmony in order to perform daily life activities. Core stability exercises maximize motor pathways mechanoreceptors' activities, as well scapular stabilization exercises are generally recommended based on reported benefits in terms of chronic neck pain. The relationship between chronic myofascial neck pain, and hand disability is quite strong. From mechanical point of view, core stability exercises improve trunk stability in line to enhance upper extremity efficiency that facilitates hand, and pinch grasping. In addition, scapular stabilization exercises could improve both hand, and pinch grasp strength and dexterity. Therefore, this randomized clinical trial will be conducted in line to clarify the superiority of the therapeutic effects between core stability exercises, scapular stabilization exercises, and conventional physical therapy program on hand grip strength, pinch grip strength, neck pain intensity level, pain pressure threshold, and whole upper extremity functional level in patients with chronic myofascial neck pain.

Descripción general del estudio

Descripción detallada

Chronic myofascial neck pain (CMNP) is a painful non-articular musculoskeletal neck syndrome that is a persistent and prevalent with a frequently reported myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) at upper trapezius with a reported prevalence of up to 93.75%. Individuals with upper trapezius MTrPs would have an overall upper extremity muscular strength reduction that ultimately resulting in decline hand grip strength. positive relation between core endurance and hand grip strength. That finding may be explained by the fact that the core region exhibits an anatomical, and biomechanical interconnection with the extremities, characterized by a prominent muscular linkage. Both core and scapular stabilization exercises has been addressed as one of the most evidence-based modalities. core acts as a the central most part of the kinetic chain, or a double walled cylinder with abdominals in front, multifidis as back, diaphragm as a roof, pelvic floor at the bottom. Where upper extremities connect with core, and attached extremities articulations that transfer energy from torso proximally to extremities' parts distally during functional activities . Scapular stability represents a vital role in terms of whole upper extremity functioning. The research gap to answer the question; Are there any significant differences between core stability exercises, scapular stabilization exercises, and conventional physical therapy program on hand grip strength, pinch grip strength, neck pain intensity level, pain pressure threshold, and whole upper extremity functional level in patients with chronic myofascial neck pain?

Tipo de estudio

Intervencionista

Inscripción (Estimado)

60

Fase

  • No aplica

Contactos y Ubicaciones

Esta sección proporciona los datos de contacto de quienes realizan el estudio e información sobre dónde se lleva a cabo este estudio.

Estudio Contacto

  • Nombre: Adnan AA Gharib, PHD
  • Número de teléfono: +201065798861
  • Correo electrónico: dradnanpts@gmail.com

Copia de seguridad de contactos de estudio

  • Nombre: Magda Ramadan Zahran, Assistant Professor
  • Número de teléfono: 01065798861
  • Correo electrónico: dradnanpts@gmail.com

Ubicaciones de estudio

    • Giza Governorate
      • Giza, Giza Governorate, Egipto, 11432
        • Reclutamiento
        • Cairo University
        • Contacto:
          • Magda Ramadan Zahran, Assistant Professor
          • Número de teléfono: 01065798861
          • Correo electrónico: dradnanpts@gmail.com
        • Contacto:
        • Investigador principal:
          • Adnan AA Gharib, PHD

Criterios de participación

Los investigadores buscan personas que se ajusten a una determinada descripción, denominada criterio de elegibilidad. Algunos ejemplos de estos criterios son el estado de salud general de una persona o tratamientos previos.

Criterio de elegibilidad

Edades elegibles para estudiar

  • Adulto

Acepta Voluntarios Saludables

No

Descripción

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Patients diagnosed with chronic myofascial neck pain depending on referral, and physical examination.
  2. Sixty patients diagnosed with chronic myofascial neck pain for more than six months.
  3. Patients age range will 25-45 years
  4. Patients body mass index (BMI) will be 18.5-24.9 kg/m2
  5. Each patient suffering from all active MTrPs in the upper trapezius muscle with painful/ tender nodule.
  6. Patients have a constant neck pain with positive jump sign when palpating the upper trapezius muscle.
  7. Patients have referred pain, and symptoms of ipsilateral hand muscle weakness.
  8. No history of undergoing physiotherapy modalities or corticosteroid injection therapies in the past six months before the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Presence of signs of severe pathology such as malignancies, mainly of the cervical region.
  2. Fracture of the cervical spine.
  3. Cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy.
  4. Diabetes mellitus.
  5. Trauma, cognitive anomalies, and surgery around neck, shoulders, or hand.
  6. Fibromyalgia or vascular syndromes such as vertebral basilar insufficiency.
  7. Pregnancy.
  8. Having undergone physical therapy within the past three months before the study.
  9. Having corticosteroid injection therapies in the past 3 months before the study.

Plan de estudios

Esta sección proporciona detalles del plan de estudio, incluido cómo está diseñado el estudio y qué mide el estudio.

¿Cómo está diseñado el estudio?

Detalles de diseño

  • Propósito principal: Tratamiento
  • Asignación: Aleatorizado
  • Modelo Intervencionista: Asignación paralela
  • Enmascaramiento: Cuadruplicar

Armas e Intervenciones

Grupo de participantes/brazo
Intervención / Tratamiento
Experimental: Experimental Group A (Core Stability)
consists of 20 participants who receive core stability exercises, plus the traditional physical therapy program in the form of ischemic compression of upper trapezius muscle, strain-counter strain of upper trapezius muscle, and muscle energy technique of upper trapezius muscle, three sessions per week for 6 weeks.

The core stability exercise protocol will be conducted to experimental group (A), only. The core stability exercise protocol will be conducted for 40-45 minutes (10 minutes worm-up 'stretch exercises', 25 minutes core stabilization exercises, and 5-10 minutes cool down exercises 'stretch exercises') 3 sections/ week for six weeks

1. Diaphragm Core '';360 degree expansion breathing, weighted breathing 2. Transverse abdominis 'Abdominal drawing in maneuver, supine vacuum, pelvic tilt'; 3. Multifidus 'quadruped altered leg/arm, bridge with leg extension'; 4. Pelvic Floor muscles/Kegel, bridging, and bridging dog, and squat Core stability exercise.

  1. Ischemic compression; apply an intermittent ischemic compression on the identified MTrPs within upper trapezius via the researcher thumb for ninety seconds.
  2. Strain-counter strain; apply pressure at MTrPs within stretched upper trapezius, with patient will move the affected shoulder passively to 90° of abduction and external rotation for ninety seconds.
  3. Muscle Energy Technique; patient will do lateral neck flexion to opposite side, and will maintained for 10 seconds, will apply thirty seconds of stretch for ipsilateral affected upper trapezius
Experimental: Experimental Group B (Scapular Stabilization)
consists of 20 participants who receive scapular stabilization exercise, plus the traditional physical therapy program, three sessions per week for 6 weeks.
  1. Ischemic compression; apply an intermittent ischemic compression on the identified MTrPs within upper trapezius via the researcher thumb for ninety seconds.
  2. Strain-counter strain; apply pressure at MTrPs within stretched upper trapezius, with patient will move the affected shoulder passively to 90° of abduction and external rotation for ninety seconds.
  3. Muscle Energy Technique; patient will do lateral neck flexion to opposite side, and will maintained for 10 seconds, will apply thirty seconds of stretch for ipsilateral affected upper trapezius

The scapular stabilization exercise protocol will be conducted to experimental group (B), only. The core scapular stabilization exercise protocol will be conducted for 40-45 minutes (10 minutes worm-up 'stretch exercises', 25 minutes scapular stabilization exercises, and 5-10 minutes cool down exercises 'stretch exercises') 3 sections/ week for six weeks

a. Open chain stabilization exercises 'scapular elevation/depression, upward/downward rotation', b. Static closed chain stabilization exercises 'Protected weight bearing through both hands leaning against wall', c. Dynamic closed chain stabilization exercises 'scapular retraction'

Comparador activo: Control Group C (Traditional Physical Therapy Program)
consists of 20 participants who receive the traditional physical therapy program, three sessions per week for 6 weeks, only
  1. Ischemic compression; apply an intermittent ischemic compression on the identified MTrPs within upper trapezius via the researcher thumb for ninety seconds.
  2. Strain-counter strain; apply pressure at MTrPs within stretched upper trapezius, with patient will move the affected shoulder passively to 90° of abduction and external rotation for ninety seconds.
  3. Muscle Energy Technique; patient will do lateral neck flexion to opposite side, and will maintained for 10 seconds, will apply thirty seconds of stretch for ipsilateral affected upper trapezius

¿Qué mide el estudio?

Medidas de resultado primarias

Medida de resultado
Medida Descripción
Periodo de tiempo
Hand Grip Strength
Periodo de tiempo: 1. At Baseline (Pre-procedure), 2. Post-treatment (Post 6 weeks of treatment program).
Hand-held Dynamometer (SAMMONS PRESTON, INC. Bolingbrook, IL604404989) will be used to measure it. The patient will sit on a standard height chair with no armrest with his/ her forearm in a neutral position, and shoulder in adducted and neutral rotation, with elbow flexed 90 degrees (°). The patient will be requested to squeeze the ipsilateral hand on the hand grip dynamometer handle accordingly to the ordered verbs 'i.e., one, two, three, squeeze…harder, harder'. Three measures will be conducted with one minute a break in between, then the average will be recorded in value score.
1. At Baseline (Pre-procedure), 2. Post-treatment (Post 6 weeks of treatment program).
Pinch Grip Strength
Periodo de tiempo: 1. At Baseline (Pre-procedure), 2. Post-treatment (Post 6 weeks of treatment program).
The pinch gauge (FEI, White plains, NY 10602, USA) will be used to measure the pinch grip strength, it is a valid and reliable tool. The patient will sit on a standard height chair with no armrest with his/ her shoulder, elbow, forearm, and wrist in a neutral position. The patient will be requested to squeeze the thumb pad as firm as possible against the lateral aspect of index fingers' middle phalanx, while the examiner will hold the distal end of the pinch gauge. Three measures will be conducted with one minute a break in between, then the average will be recorded in a score value.
1. At Baseline (Pre-procedure), 2. Post-treatment (Post 6 weeks of treatment program).

Medidas de resultado secundarias

Medida de resultado
Medida Descripción
Periodo de tiempo
Chronic Myofascial Neck Pain Intensity assessment using Numerical Pain Rating Scale:
Periodo de tiempo: 1. At Baseline (Pre-procedure), 2. Post-treatment (Post 6 weeks of treatment program).
Numerical Pain Rating Scale will be used to assess chronic myofascial neck pain intensity, The patient will be in a relaxed position then will be given the appendix which contains numerical pain rating scale. It involves a 0-10 scale, where 0 represents "no pain" and 10 represents "the worst pain imaginable" The patient will be instructed to place a vertical mark on the line to indicate his/her pain.
1. At Baseline (Pre-procedure), 2. Post-treatment (Post 6 weeks of treatment program).
Pressure Pain Threshold using electronic pressure algometer
Periodo de tiempo: 1. At Baseline (Pre-procedure), 2. Post-treatment (Post 6 weeks of treatment program).
The electronic pressure algometer 'force one gauge model FDI' (Wagner instruments, Greenwash, CT, USA) will be used to measure it, it is a valid and reliable tool. Over trigger point recognized via jump sign clinically, a dial-style pressure algometry will be installed while a steady vertical pressure will be applied. When the patient reported only mild pain, the patient will be asked to raise hand to indicate it. Three measures will be conducted with one minute a break in between, then average will be recorded in value.
1. At Baseline (Pre-procedure), 2. Post-treatment (Post 6 weeks of treatment program).
Whole Upper Extremity Functional Level using Arabic-Q-DASH scale
Periodo de tiempo: 1. At Baseline (Pre-procedure), 2. Post-treatment (Post 6 weeks of treatment program).
The whole upper extremity functional level will be evaluated using Arabic-Q-DASH it is a valid and reliable tool. The Arabic-Q-DASH is like the original questionnaire. Items have a rating scale ranged from 1 to 5. The patient will be instructed to place a score that the examiner will transform it into a value between 0 and 100. The high score indicates better hand function outcomes with exception of pain, where high value indicates more intense pain score.
1. At Baseline (Pre-procedure), 2. Post-treatment (Post 6 weeks of treatment program).

Colaboradores e Investigadores

Aquí es donde encontrará personas y organizaciones involucradas en este estudio.

Patrocinador

Investigadores

  • Director de estudio: Sohair Shehata Rezkallah, Professor, Cairo University; Faculty of Physical Therapy

Fechas de registro del estudio

Estas fechas rastrean el progreso del registro del estudio y los envíos de resultados resumidos a ClinicalTrials.gov. Los registros del estudio y los resultados informados son revisados ​​por la Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina (NLM) para asegurarse de que cumplan con los estándares de control de calidad específicos antes de publicarlos en el sitio web público.

Fechas importantes del estudio

Inicio del estudio (Actual)

1 de junio de 2026

Finalización primaria (Estimado)

1 de enero de 2027

Finalización del estudio (Estimado)

30 de junio de 2027

Fechas de registro del estudio

Enviado por primera vez

29 de junio de 2026

Primero enviado que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad

2 de julio de 2026

Publicado por primera vez (Actual)

9 de julio de 2026

Actualizaciones de registros de estudio

Última actualización publicada (Actual)

10 de julio de 2026

Última actualización enviada que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad

8 de julio de 2026

Última verificación

1 de julio de 2026

Más información

Términos relacionados con este estudio

Plan de datos de participantes individuales (IPD)

¿Planea compartir datos de participantes individuales (IPD)?

NO

Información sobre medicamentos y dispositivos, documentos del estudio

Estudia un producto farmacéutico regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.

No

Estudia un producto de dispositivo regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.

No

Esta información se obtuvo directamente del sitio web clinicaltrials.gov sin cambios. Si tiene alguna solicitud para cambiar, eliminar o actualizar los detalles de su estudio, comuníquese con register@clinicaltrials.gov. Tan pronto como se implemente un cambio en clinicaltrials.gov, también se actualizará automáticamente en nuestro sitio web. .

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