Development of Standard Guidelines for Relaxation Exercises in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain and Determination of Their Effectiveness

Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age22-65
SponsorBalikesir University

About this trial

The goal of this observational study is to determine whether relaxation exercises performed before cranio-cervical flexion can reduce superficial neck muscle activation (specifically sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius) in individuals with neck pain.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does performing relaxation exercises prior to cranio-cervical flexion reduce sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle activation? * Does it reduce upper trapezius muscle activation during the standing?

Researchers will compare the group performing relaxation exercises before cranio-cervical flexion to the group performing only cranio-cervical flexion to see if there is a measurable difference in superficial neck muscle activation.

Participants will:

* Perform cranio-cervical flexion exercises. * Perform relaxation exercises prior to the cranio-cervical flexion (intervention group only). * Undergo surface EMG measurements to assess muscle activity.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Knowledge of Turkish

Chronic (at least three months) neck pain

Neck pain level of 4 or higher on a numerical pain scale

Disqualifiers

Neck pain caused by a tumor, trauma, or rheumatic disease

History of surgery involving the head, neck, shoulder, or thoracic region

Root compression

Regular use of painkillers due to another illness

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Exercise

    Other intervention

    Average of 10 minutes relaxation exercises guided with a standard audio record based on reciprocal and autogenic muscle inhibition, proprioceptive training and postural training.

  • Sham (No Treatment)

    Other intervention

    This group take no treatment between actual before and after measurements.

Treatment groups

34 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: Relaxation Exercises GroupExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Just Lie Back GroupSham comparator 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Numerical Pain Rating Scale

On the numerical pain scale, the patient will be asked, "0 means no pain at all, 10 means unbearable pain, representing the worst pain/unbearable pain you have ever experienced. On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you rate your pain?"

Time frame
At enrollment (pre-intervention) and immediately after the relaxation exercise intervention or sham intervention (Day 1)
2

Turkish Version of Core Outcome Measure Index for Neck Pain

The first question consists of two 10-point numerical pain scales that ask about neck and arm-shoulder pain. Whichever of these two questions receives a higher response is used. The other five questions are five point Likert-type response questions. The six items cover five dimensions: pain intensity (neck and arm/shoulder pain), neck-related function, symptom-specific well-being, overall quality of life, and disability (social and work). The total score is calculated by taking the average of all responses. To form the Core Outcome Measure Index summary score, each of the dimension scores is transformed to a 0-10 scale and these are then averaged to give a score ranging from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating a worse status.

Time frame
At enrollment (pre-intervention)
3

EMG Activation Level of Sternocleidomastoid Muscle During Craniocervical Flexion Maneuver

EMG Activation Level of Sternocleidomastoid Muscle During Craniocervical Flexion Maneuver standardized with Stabilizer Pressure Biofeedback Device

Time frame
At enrollment (pre-intervention) and immediately after the relaxation exercise intervention (Day 1)
4

EMG Activation Level of Upper Trapezius Muscle During Standing Still

EMG Activation Level of Upper Trapezius Muscle During Standing Still

Time frame
At enrollment (pre-intervention) and immediately after the relaxation exercise intervention (Day 1)

Secondary outcomes

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

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