Non-specific Chronic Neck PainNCT05000177
Alterations in Central Control of Shoulder Muscles in Office Workers With Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain
A study testing 30-minute computer typing task and 30-minute rest in people with Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain and Office Workers, run by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University at 1 site in Taiwan.
Trial summary
Non-specific chronic neck pain (NCNP) is commonly seen in office workers. Individuals with NCNP not only demonstrate impaired neck movement control and muscle activation, but also show abnormal scapular kinematics and muscle activation timing. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 40 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain, Office Workers, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- What is being tested?
- 30-minute computer typing task and 30-minute rest
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 51 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTaiwan
- Study dates
- 21 Dec 2021to 13 May 2022
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 20 to 40 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Ages ranges from 20-40 years old
- Work with the computer at least 25 hours per week
- No history of neck and/or shoulder pain sustained over one week in the past one year
- Ages ranges from 20-40 years old
- No history of neck and/or shoulder pain sustained over one week in the past one year
- Exclusion Criteria of Patients with Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain and All Healthy Subjects)
Show all 13Show fewer
- Any known pathology or impairment in the shoulder joint, which is the origin of neck pain
- Current episode of neck pain related to a traumatic event (e.g., whiplash injury)
- Have a history of cervical and/or shoulder pathology (e.g., fracture, dislocation, trauma, surgery of spinal or shoulder joint, inflammatory disease, frequent headache or dizziness)
- Brain injury and neurological impairment (e.g., radiculopathy, myelopathy or stroke)
- Systematic diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis), fibromyalgia, tumor
- Contraindications to the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), assessed with a safety screening questionnaire, including pregnancy, history of seizure, epilepsy and syncope, having cochlear implant, having medal implant and taking anti-depressant medication
- Any kind of previous manual and/or movement therapy on upper extremity and neck during in recent 3 months
Who cannot join
None listed.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Alterations in Corticospinal and Neuromuscular Control of Shoulder Complex in Office Workers With Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain
Non-specific chronic neck pain (NCNP) is commonly seen in office workers. Individuals with NCNP not only demonstrate impaired neck movement control and muscle activation, but also show abnormal scapular kinematics and muscle activation timing. Office workers with NCNP also show higher activity of upper trapezius during computer typing and have difficulty relaxing upper trapezius after typing. These changes related to scapula may increase strain over neck. In addition to the altered neuromuscular control, recent studies found neuroplasticity changes in the central nervous system on patients of chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore, few studies found shifts and alterations of motor cortex representation of neck muscles in individuals with NCNP, which was correlated with delayed muscle activation of deep neck flexors muscle in functional activities. However, no studies have explored that whether this corticospinal adaptation also happens over scapular muscles, especially after a computer typing task. The objectives of this proposal are to investigate the differences in corticospinal and neuromuscular control of shoulder complex between office workers with and without NCNP. Thirty-five individuals with NCNP and 35 healthy controls will be recruited. Twenty young healthy subjects will be also recruited for a pilot study to test the reliability of all the measures. Scapular kinematics and muscle activation will be tested during arm elevation. Corticospinal parameters of trapezius and serratus anterior will be tested with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), including active motor threshold, motor evoked potential, cortical silent period, short interval intracortical facilitation, short interval intracortical inhibition and cortical mapping. Corticospinal parameters, except cortical mapping, will be measured again after a 30-minute computer typing task. Scapular muscle activation will be also recorded during the typing task.
- Conditions
- Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain, Office Workers, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Neuromuscular Control
- Being tested
- 30-minute computer typing task, 30-minute rest
- Keywords
- Non-specific chronic neck pain, Transcranial magnetic Stimulation, Corticospinal system, Scapular kinematics, Scapular muscles activation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
30-minute computer typing taskOther
The subject sits in front of a computer screen and perform computer typing tasks for 30 minutes. The same computer table and chair were used for all subjects. The height of the table and screen, and the distance of the keyboard from the subject were adjusted according to their familiar and comfortable position.
30-minute restOther
Rest for 30 minutes
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental group: Non-specific chronic neck pain group | Other | Subjects with non-specific chronic neck pain will be included to perform 30-minute computer typing task and assess neurophysiological measurements of scapular muscles, scapular kinematics and muscle activation. Receives: Other: 30-minute computer typing task |
| Control group: Healthy subjects group | Other | Healthy subjects will be included to compare the differences in neurophysiological measurements of scapular muscles, scapular kinematics and muscle activation between healthy subjects and subjects with non-specific chronic neck pain. Subjects in this group will received the same assessment as the NCNP group. Receives: Other: 30-minute computer typing task |
| Pilot study: Healthy subjects group | Other | Healthy subjects will be included to test reliability of single-pulse and paired-pulse TMS, including its associated neurophysiological measurements, and also to test reliability of Liberty electromagnetic tracing system and surface electromyography. Subjects in this group will received the same assessment as the NCNP group. Receives: Other: 30-minute rest |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Neurophysiological measures - Active motor threshold
Active motor threshold (AMT) will be described with the percentage (%) of maximum stimulator output (MSO).
Measured: Change from baseline AMT after 30-minute computer typing task or 30-minute rest
Neurophysiological measures - Motor evoked potential
Motor evoked potential (MEP) will be described with millivolt (mV).
Measured: Change from baseline MEP after 30-minute computer typing task or 30-minute rest
Neurophysiological measures - Cortical silent period
Cortical silent period (CSP) will be measured with millisecond (ms)
Measured: Change from baseline CSP after 30-minute computer typing task or 30-minute rest
Neurophysiological measures - Short interval cortical inhibition
Short interval cortical inhibition (SICI) will be defined as percentage (%) of conditioning responses vs testing responses while the inter-stimulus interval is below 5 ms
Measured: Change from baseline SICI after 30-minute computer typing task or 30-minute rest
Neurophysiological measures - Short interval cortical facilitation
Short interval cortical facilitation (SICF) will be defined as percentage (%) of conditioning responses vs testing responses while the inter-stimulus interval is above 5 ms
Measured: Change from baseline SICF after 30-minute computer typing task or 30-minute rest
Neurophysiological measures - Area of cortical mapping
Area of cortical mapping will be described with square millimeter (mm2)
Measured: Before 30-minute computer typing task
Neurophysiological measures - Volume of cortical mapping
Volume of cortical mapping will be calculated with multiplying summation of motor evoke potentials on the map (mV) by the area of the map (mm2) with the unit of mV*mm2
Measured: Before 30-minute computer typing task
Neurophysiological measures - Center of gravity of cortical mapping
Center of gravity of cortical mapping will be described in a x-y coordinate system (mm).
Measured: Before 30-minute computer typing task
Neurophysiological measures - Area of cortical mapping
Area of cortical mapping will be described with square millimeter (mm2)
Measured: Change from baseline area of cortical mapping after 30-minute rest (pilot subjects)
Neurophysiological measures - Volume of cortical mapping
Volume of cortical mapping will be calculated with multiplying summation of motor evoke potentials on the map (mV) by the area of the map (mm2) with the unit of mV*mm2
Measured: Change from baseline volume of cortical mapping after 30-minute rest (pilot subjects)
Neurophysiological measures - Center of gravity of cortical mapping
Center of gravity of cortical mapping will be described in a x-y coordinate system (mm).
Measured: Change from baseline center of gravity of cortical mapping of cortical mapping after 30-minute rest (pilot subjects)
Secondary outcomes (9)
Scapular kinematics during arm elevation
Scapular kinematics, including anterior/posterior tilt, upward/downward rotation, and internal/external rotation in scapula plane elevation at 30°, 60°, 90°, and 120°, and will be described with degree (°).
Measured: Before 30-minute computer typing task
Scapular kinematics during performing the computer task
The average of scapular kinematics, including anterior/posterior tilt, upward/downward rotation, and internal/external rotation will be calculated with a window of 10 seconds and will be described with degree (°).
Measured: Change from baseline during the 30-minute computer typing task at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 minutes of the task
Scapular muscles activation during arm elevation
The root mean square of electromyography (EMG) data of the upper trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior will be normalized by the maximum voluntary contraction amplitude (percentage of maximal voluntary contraction, %) and calculated over three 30° increments of motion during arm elevation from 30° to 120°, including 30° - 60°, 60° - 90°, and 90° - 120°.
Measured: Before 30-minute computer typing task
Scapular muscles activation during performing the computer task
The root mean square of electromyography (EMG) data of the upper trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior will be calculated with a window of 10 seconds and will be normalized by the maximum voluntary contraction amplitude (percentage of maximal voluntary contraction, %).
Measured: Change from baseline during the 30-minute computer typing task at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 minutes of the task
Craniovertebral angle
Craniovertebral angle will be measured as the included angle between the tragus, C7 spinous process and the horizontal line and will be described with degree (°)
Measured: Before 30-minute computer typing task
Craniovertebral angle
Craniovertebral angle will be measured as the included angle between the tragus, C7 spinous process and the horizontal line and will be described with degree (°)
Measured: Change from baseline during the 30-minute computer typing task at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 minutes of the task
Scapular kinematics during arm elevation
Scapular kinematics, including anterior/posterior tilt, upward/downward rotation, and internal/external rotation in scapula plane elevation at 30°, 60°, 90°, and 120°, and will be described with degree (°).
Measured: Change from baseline scapular kinematics after 30-minute rest (pilot subjects)
Scapular muscles activation during arm elevation
The root mean square of electromyography (EMG) data of the upper trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior will be normalized by the maximum voluntary contraction amplitude (percentage of maximal voluntary contraction, %) and calculated over three 30° increments of motion during arm elevation from 30° to 120°, including 30° - 60°, 60° - 90°, and 90° - 120°.
Measured: Change from baseline scapular muscles activation after 30-minute rest (pilot subjects)
Craniovertebral angle
Craniovertebral angle will be measured as the included angle between the tragus, C7 spinous process and the horizontal line and will be described with degree (°)
Measured: Change from baseline craniovertebral angle after 30-minute rest (pilot subjects)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Aug 2021
- Study start21 Dec 2021
- Primary completion13 May 2022
- Study completion13 May 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Non-specific Chronic Neck PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 51 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Yin-Liang Lin, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
- Investigators
- Yin-Liang Lin, PhD, Principal investigator, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05000177
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- YM110059F
- Status last verified
- Sep 2022
- First submitted
- 18 Jul 2021
- Last updated
- 21 Sep 2022
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Sep 2022. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Alterations in Corticospinal and Neuromuscular Control of Shoulder Complex in Office Workers With Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05000177
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- YM110059F
- Conditions
- Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain, Office Workers, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Neuromuscular Control
- Keywords
- Non-specific chronic neck pain, Transcranial magnetic Stimulation, Corticospinal system, Scapular kinematics, Scapular muscles activation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 51 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 21 Dec 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 13 May 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 13 May 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 11 Aug 2021 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Non-specific chronic neck pain (NCNP) is commonly seen in office workers. Individuals with NCNP not only demonstrate impaired neck movement control and muscle activation, but also show abnormal scapular kinematics and muscle activation timing. Office workers with NCNP also show higher activity of upper trapezius during computer typing and have difficulty relaxing upper trapezius after typing. These changes related to scapula may increase strain over neck. In addition to the altered neuromuscular control, recent studies found neuroplasticity changes in the central nervous system on patients of chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore, few studies found shifts and alterations of motor cortex representation of neck muscles in individuals with NCNP, which was correlated with delayed muscle activation of deep neck flexors muscle in functional activities. However, no studies have explored that whether this corticospinal adaptation also happens over scapular muscles, especially after a computer typing task. The objectives of this proposal are to investigate the differences in corticospinal and neuromuscular control of shoulder complex between office workers with and without NCNP. Thirty-five individuals with NCNP and 35 healthy controls will be recruited. Twenty young healthy subjects will be also recruited for a pilot study to test the reliability of all the measures. Scapular kinematics and muscle activation will be tested during arm elevation. Corticospinal parameters of trapezius and serratus anterior will be tested with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), including active motor threshold, motor evoked potential, cortical silent period, short interval intracortical facilitation, short interval intracortical inhibition and cortical mapping. Corticospinal parameters, except cortical mapping, will be measured again after a 30-minute computer typing task. Scapular muscle activation will be also recorded during the typing task.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental group: Non-specific chronic neck pain group | Other | Other: 30-minute computer typing taskSubjects with non-specific chronic neck pain will be included to perform 30-minute computer typing task and assess neurophysiological measurements of scapular muscles, scapular kinematics and muscle activation. |
| Control group: Healthy subjects group | Other | Other: 30-minute computer typing taskHealthy subjects will be included to compare the differences in neurophysiological measurements of scapular muscles, scapular kinematics and muscle activation between healthy subjects and subjects with non-specific chronic neck pain. Subjects in this group will received the same assessment as the NCNP group. |
| Pilot study: Healthy subjects group | Other | Other: 30-minute restHealthy subjects will be included to test reliability of single-pulse and paired-pulse TMS, including its associated neurophysiological measurements, and also to test reliability of Liberty electromagnetic tracing system and surface electromyography. Subjects in this group will received the same assessment as the NCNP group. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (13 listed)
- Ages ranges from 20-40 years old
- Work with the computer at least 25 hours per week
- No history of neck and/or shoulder pain sustained over one week in the past one year
- Ages ranges from 20-40 years old
- No history of neck and/or shoulder pain sustained over one week in the past one year
Key exclusion criteria (0 listed)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| 30-minute computer typing taskThe subject sits in front of a computer screen and perform computer typing tasks for 30 minutes. The same computer table and chair were used for all subjects. The height of the table and screen, and the distance of the keyboard from the subject were adjusted according to their familiar and comfortable position. | Other | Control group: Healthy subjects group, Experimental group: Non-specific chronic neck pain group |
| 30-minute restRest for 30 minutes | Other | Pilot study: Healthy subjects group |
Primary outcome
Neurophysiological measures - Active motor threshold
Time frame: Change from baseline AMT after 30-minute computer typing task or 30-minute rest
Active motor threshold (AMT) will be described with the percentage (%) of maximum stimulator output (MSO).
Neurophysiological measures - Motor evoked potential
Time frame: Change from baseline MEP after 30-minute computer typing task or 30-minute rest
Motor evoked potential (MEP) will be described with millivolt (mV).
Neurophysiological measures - Cortical silent period
Time frame: Change from baseline CSP after 30-minute computer typing task or 30-minute rest
Cortical silent period (CSP) will be measured with millisecond (ms)
Neurophysiological measures - Short interval cortical inhibition
Time frame: Change from baseline SICI after 30-minute computer typing task or 30-minute rest
Short interval cortical inhibition (SICI) will be defined as percentage (%) of conditioning responses vs testing responses while the inter-stimulus interval is below 5 ms
Neurophysiological measures - Short interval cortical facilitation
Time frame: Change from baseline SICF after 30-minute computer typing task or 30-minute rest
Short interval cortical facilitation (SICF) will be defined as percentage (%) of conditioning responses vs testing responses while the inter-stimulus interval is above 5 ms
Neurophysiological measures - Area of cortical mapping
Time frame: Before 30-minute computer typing task
Area of cortical mapping will be described with square millimeter (mm2)
Neurophysiological measures - Volume of cortical mapping
Time frame: Before 30-minute computer typing task
Volume of cortical mapping will be calculated with multiplying summation of motor evoke potentials on the map (mV) by the area of the map (mm2) with the unit of mV*mm2
Neurophysiological measures - Center of gravity of cortical mapping
Time frame: Before 30-minute computer typing task
Center of gravity of cortical mapping will be described in a x-y coordinate system (mm).
Neurophysiological measures - Area of cortical mapping
Time frame: Change from baseline area of cortical mapping after 30-minute rest (pilot subjects)
Area of cortical mapping will be described with square millimeter (mm2)
Neurophysiological measures - Volume of cortical mapping
Time frame: Change from baseline volume of cortical mapping after 30-minute rest (pilot subjects)
Volume of cortical mapping will be calculated with multiplying summation of motor evoke potentials on the map (mV) by the area of the map (mm2) with the unit of mV*mm2
Neurophysiological measures - Center of gravity of cortical mapping
Time frame: Change from baseline center of gravity of cortical mapping of cortical mapping after 30-minute rest (pilot subjects)
Center of gravity of cortical mapping will be described in a x-y coordinate system (mm).
9 secondary outcomes
Scapular kinematics during arm elevation
Time frame: Before 30-minute computer typing task
Scapular kinematics during performing the computer task
Time frame: Change from baseline during the 30-minute computer typing task at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 minutes of the task
Scapular muscles activation during arm elevation
Time frame: Before 30-minute computer typing task
Scapular muscles activation during performing the computer task
Time frame: Change from baseline during the 30-minute computer typing task at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 minutes of the task
Craniovertebral angle
Time frame: Before 30-minute computer typing task
Craniovertebral angle
Time frame: Change from baseline during the 30-minute computer typing task at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 minutes of the task
Scapular kinematics during arm elevation
Time frame: Change from baseline scapular kinematics after 30-minute rest (pilot subjects)
Scapular muscles activation during arm elevation
Time frame: Change from baseline scapular muscles activation after 30-minute rest (pilot subjects)
Craniovertebral angle
Time frame: Change from baseline craniovertebral angle after 30-minute rest (pilot subjects)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 21 Sep 2022.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Yin-Liang Lin, PhD principal investigator
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing 30-minute computer typing task and 30-minute rest in people with Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain and Office Workers, run by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University at 1 site in Taiwan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 13 inclusion and 0 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Sep 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Taiwan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Neurophysiological measures - Active motor threshold (time frame: Change from baseline AMT after 30-minute computer typing task or 30-minute rest). The study lists 11 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Sep 2022.