This non-randomized controlled intervention study aims to evaluate the effects of a six-week structured exercise program integrated into anatomy laboratory sessions on neck pain, neck-related disability, musculoskeletal symptoms, physical performance, and laboratory performance among first- and second-year dental students at Giresun University.
Second-year students will constitute the intervention group, while first-year students will serve as controls and continue their routine educational activities. The intervention consists of five-minute exercise sessions performed twice weekly before anatomy laboratory classes for six weeks. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and at the end of the intervention, with additional assessments of neck pain and disability at week three and six.
Being a first- or second-year dental student at Giresun University.
Being older than 18 years.
Providing voluntary informed consent
Diagnosed cervical disc herniation
Rheumatological disease
History of neck trauma
Receiving regular physiotherapy
Parallel
Exercise program
BehavioralThe intervention consists of a six-week structured exercise program performed twice weekly before anatomy laboratory sessions. Each session lasts approximately five minutes and includes breathing exercises, cervical mobility exercises, isometric cervical strengthening, postural exercises, and scapular strengthening. The first two weeks are supervised by a researcher, followed by video-guided sessions for the remaining four weeks. No exercise equipment is required.
neck disability index
Neck-related disability will be assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), a 10-item self-reported questionnaire. Each item is scored from 0 to 5, resulting in a total score ranging from 0 to 50. Higher scores indicate greater neck-related disability.
Change in Cervical and Shoulder Muscle Strength
Muscle strength will be assessed isometrically using a handheld dynamometer. Cervical flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and shoulder external rotation strength will be measured in the sitting position. Each measurement will be performed three times, with at least 30 seconds of rest between measurements, and the highest value will be recorded. Higher values indicate greater muscle strength.
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