Upper Cross SyndromeNCT06800573
Smartphone Application with Global Postural Re-education in Patients with Upper Cross Syndrome
A study testing Conventional physical therapy, lying posture with progression and smartphone app exercises in people with Upper Cross Syndrome, run by Cairo University.
Trial summary
The Effect of Integrating a Smartphone Application with Global Postural Re-education on Cervical Proprioception in Patients with Upper Cross Syndrome Design: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 28 to 48 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Upper Cross Syndrome
- What is being tested?
- Conventional physical therapy, lying posture with progression and smartphone app exercises
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 50 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 25 Mar 2025to 28 Aug 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 28 to 48 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- office workers(using a computer at least 4 h),
- aged between 28 and 48years,
- NP between 3 and 8 cm on a visual analog scale(VAS) (from 0 indicating no pain at all to 10 indicating unbearable pain),
- Chronic non specific neck pain lasting for more than 3 months (Fathollahnejad et al., 2019).
Who cannot join
- • Specific causes of NP (e.g., systemic, rheumatic, neuromuscular diseases), central or peripheral neurological signs, cognitive impairment, spinal surgery, or physical therapy treatments in the last 6 months prior to the baseline assessment.
- Participants would be also excluded if they missed at least three consecutive or four non consecutive sessions (Fathollahnejad et al., 2019).
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Kafr El-Sheikh university contact
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Integrating a Smartphone Application with Global Postural Re-education on Cervical Proprioception in Patients with Upper Cross Syndrome
The Effect of Integrating a Smartphone Application with Global Postural Re-education on Cervical Proprioception in Patients with Upper Cross Syndrome
Design:
Read more
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT).
Procedures:
Patients with cervical pain resulting from Upper Cross Syndrome (UCS), recruited from El Amal Clinic in Fayoum, will be randomly assigned to one of three groups:
Group A: Receives experimental interventions for 50 minutes per day, 4 days per week, over 8 weeks. The exercises are assisted by a smartphone application designed to support the intervention.
Group B: Receives the same interventions as Group A but without the use of the smartphone application. The exercises focus on stretching the anterior and posterior muscle chains.
Control Group: Receives conventional physiotherapy for 50 minutes per day, 4 days per week, over 8 weeks. This includes postural correction, neck education, and exercise therapy.
Inclusion Criteria:
Office workers aged between 28 and 48 years.
Chronic nonspecific neck pain with a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score between 3 and 8.
Persistent pain for more than 3 months.
Absence of cognitive impairments and the ability to safely participate in an exercise program.
Postural changes characteristic of UCS, such as forward head posture and elevated shoulders.
Exclusion Criteria:
Specific causes of neck pain, such as systemic diseases or neurological signs.
History of spinal surgery or physical therapy treatments within the last 6 months.
Failure to attend three consecutive sessions or four non-consecutive sessions.
Instrumentation:
Assessment Tools:
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to measure cervical pain.
Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) device to assess cervical range of motion and proprioception.
Neck Disability Index (NDI) to evaluate neck function.
Treatment Tools:
Smartphone application named "Kyphosis and Rounded Back."
Global Postural Reeducation methods.
Traditional physiotherapy techniques.
Read the detailed description
The Effect of Integrating a Smartphone Application with Global Postural Re-education on Cervical Proprioception in Patients with Upper Cross Syndrome
Design:
Randomized Controlled Trial.
Participants:
The sample size will be determined using G power analysis.
Procedures:
Patients of both sexes (men and women) suffering from cervical pain caused by Upper Cross Syndrome (UCS) will be randomly selected from El Amal Clinic in Fayoum. They will be randomly assigned into three groups:
Group A: Participants will undergo experimental interventions for approximately 50 minutes a day, 4 days a week, for an 8-week period. Exercises will be assisted and reminded by a smartphone app at predetermined times.
Group B: Participants will undergo the same experimental interventions for approximately 50 minutes a day, 4 days a week, for an 8-week period, without app assistance. The exercises include:
Exercise 1: The lying posture with leg extension progression, aimed to stretch the anterior muscle chain (diaphragm, pectoralis minor, scalene, sternocleidomastoid, intercostalis, iliopsoas, arm, forearm, and hand flexors).
Exercise 2: The lying posture with flexion of the thighs, intended to stretch the posterior chain (upper trapezius, levator scapulae, suboccipital, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, ischiotibial, triceps surae, and foot intrinsic muscles).
Control Group: Participants will perform an evidence-based physiotherapy program for approximately 50 minutes a day, 4 days a week, for an 8-week period. This program includes:
Postural correction in daily activities, neck education, and exercise therapy focused on issues such as spine anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, common causes of neck pain, the load tolerance model, nociceptive pain processing, self-care, and ergonomic suggestions for daily activities (e.g., standing, sitting, lifting).
Conventional physical therapy, including strengthening exercises for deep neck flexors, rhomboids, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior (2 sets of 10 repetitions per day) and stretching exercises for pectoralis muscles (20-second hold, 5 repetitions).
Inclusion Criteria:
Office workers using a computer for at least 4 hours per day.
Aged between 28 and 48 years.
Neck pain scored between 3 and 8 cm on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating unbearable pain).
Chronic nonspecific neck pain lasting more than 3 months.
Willingness and ability to safely participate in an exercise program without cognitive impairments.
Specific postural changes seen in UCS, including forward head posture, increased cervical lordosis and thoracic kyphosis, elevated and protracted shoulders, and scapular rotation, abduction, or winging.
Exclusion Criteria:
Specific causes of neck pain (e.g., systemic, rheumatic, or neuromuscular diseases), central or peripheral neurological signs, cognitive impairments, spinal surgery, or physiotherapy treatments in the 6 months prior to baseline assessment.
Participants missing at least three consecutive or four non-consecutive sessions.
Instrumentation:
For Assessment:
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to assess cervical pain.
CROM device to assess cervical range of motion (ROM) and cervical proprioception.
Neck Disability Index (NDI) to assess neck function.
For Treatment:
Smartphone app called "Kyphosis and Rounded Back" .
Global Postural Re-education.
Traditional evidence-based physiotherapy.
- Conditions
- Upper Cross Syndrome
- Being tested
- Conventional physical therapy, lying posture with progression, smartphone app exercises
- Medical subject headings
- Oculocerebral hypopigmentation syndrome type Preus
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Conventional physical therapyOther
including strengthening exercises for deep neck flexors, rhomboids, lower trapezius and serratus anterior, (2 sets of 10 repetitions per day) and stretching exercises for pectoralis muscles (20seconds hold, 5 repetition.
lying posture with progressionOther
Exercise 1, the lying posture with leg extension progression, was aimed to stretch the anterior muscle chain (diaphragm, pectoralis minor, scalene, sternocleidomastoid, intercostalis, iliopsoas, arm, forearm, and hand flexors)(Bonetti et al., 2010).
Exercise 2, the lying posture with flexion of the thighs, was intended to stretch the posterior chain (upper trapezius, levator scapulae, suboccipital, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, ischiotibial, triceps surae, and foot intrinsic muscles).
smartphone app exercisesOther
about 50 min a day, 4 days a week for an 8-week period also, performed exercises which were reminded by a smartphone app at predetermined times.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Group A: underwent the experimental interventions about 50 min a day, 4 days a week for an 8-week | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: smartphone app exercises |
| • Group B: underwent the experimental interventions about 50 min a day, 4 days a week for an 8-week | Experimental | • Group B: underwent the experimental interventions about 50 min a day, 4 days a week for an 8-week period. Receives: Other: lying posture with progression |
| • control group: The participants in the performed an evidence-based physiotherapy program about 50 | Active comparator | • control group: The participants in the performed an evidence-based physiotherapy program about 50 min a day, 4 days a week for an 8-week period, described as a postural correction on daily activities . Receives: Other: Conventional physical therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
VAS (visual analogue scale)
- VAS (visual analogue scale) to assess cervical pain.
Measured: 8 weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
Cervical ROM
CROM device to assess cervical ROM and to assess cervical propioception.
Measured: 8 weeks
Neck disability index (NDI)
Neck disability index (NDI): to assess neck function.
Measured: 8 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Jan 2025
- Study start25 Mar 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion20 Jul 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion28 Aug 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Upper Cross SyndromeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Cairo 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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- The Effect of Integrating a Smartphone Application with Global Postural Re-education on Cervical Proprioception in Patients with Upper Cross Syndrome Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Participants: The sample size will be determined using G power analysis. Procedures: Patients of both sexes (men and women) suffering from cervical pain caused by Upper Cross Syndrome (UCS) will be randomly selected from El Amal Clinic in Fayoum. They will be randomly assigned into three groups: Group A: Participants will undergo experimental interventions for approximately 50 minutes a day, 4 days a week, for an 8-week period. Exercises will be assisted and reminded by a smartphone app at predetermined times. Group B: Participants will undergo the same experimental interventions for approximately 50 minutes a day, 4 days a week, for an 8-week period, without app assistance. The exercises include: Exercise 1: The lying posture with leg extension progression, aimed to stretch the anterior muscle c
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Rania Ahmed, Cairo University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06800573
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- P.T.REC/012/005034
- Status last verified
- Jan 2025
- First submitted
- 22 Jan 2025
- Last updated
- 30 Jan 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 30 Jan 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Integrating a Smartphone Application with Global Postural Re-education on Cervical Proprioception in Patients with Upper Cross Syndrome
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06800573
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- P.T.REC/012/005034
- Conditions
- Upper Cross Syndrome
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 25 Mar 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 20 Jul 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 28 Aug 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 30 Jan 2025 (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.
The Effect of Integrating a Smartphone Application with Global Postural Re-education on Cervical Proprioception in Patients with Upper Cross Syndrome
Design:
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT).
Procedures:
Patients with cervical pain resulting from Upper Cross Syndrome (UCS), recruited from El Amal Clinic in Fayoum, will be randomly assigned to one of three groups:
Group A: Receives experimental interventions for 50 minutes per day, 4 days per week, over 8 weeks. The exercises are assisted by a smartphone application designed to support the intervention.
Group B: Receives the same interventions as Group A but without the use of the smartphone application. The exercises focus on stretching the anterior and posterior muscle chains.
Control Group: Receives conventional physiotherapy for 50 minutes per day, 4 days per week, over 8 weeks. This includes postural correction, neck education, and exercise therapy.
Inclusion Criteria:
Office workers aged between 28 and 48 years.
Chronic nonspecific neck pain with a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score between 3 and 8.
Persistent pain for more than 3 months.
Absence of cognitive impairments and the ability to safely participate in an exercise program.
Postural changes characteristic of UCS, such as forward head posture and elevated shoulders.
Exclusion Criteria:
Specific causes of neck pain, such as systemic diseases or neurological signs.
History of spinal surgery or physical therapy treatments within the last 6 months.
Failure to attend three consecutive sessions or four non-consecutive sessions.
Instrumentation:
Assessment Tools:
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to measure cervical pain.
Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) device to assess cervical range of motion and proprioception.
Neck Disability Index (NDI) to evaluate neck function.
Treatment Tools:
Smartphone application named "Kyphosis and Rounded Back."
Global Postural Reeducation methods.
Traditional physiotherapy techniques.
Detailed description
The Effect of Integrating a Smartphone Application with Global Postural Re-education on Cervical Proprioception in Patients with Upper Cross Syndrome
Design:
Randomized Controlled Trial.
Participants:
The sample size will be determined using G power analysis.
Procedures:
Patients of both sexes (men and women) suffering from cervical pain caused by Upper Cross Syndrome (UCS) will be randomly selected from El Amal Clinic in Fayoum. They will be randomly assigned into three groups:
Group A: Participants will undergo experimental interventions for approximately 50 minutes a day, 4 days a week, for an 8-week period. Exercises will be assisted and reminded by a smartphone app at predetermined times.
Group B: Participants will undergo the same experimental interventions for approximately 50 minutes a day, 4 days a week, for an 8-week period, without app assistance. The exercises include:
Exercise 1: The lying posture with leg extension progression, aimed to stretch the anterior muscle chain (diaphragm, pectoralis minor, scalene, sternocleidomastoid, intercostalis, iliopsoas, arm, forearm, and hand flexors).
Exercise 2: The lying posture with flexion of the thighs, intended to stretch the posterior chain (upper trapezius, levator scapulae, suboccipital, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, ischiotibial, triceps surae, and foot intrinsic muscles).
Control Group: Participants will perform an evidence-based physiotherapy program for approximately 50 minutes a day, 4 days a week, for an 8-week period. This program includes:
Postural correction in daily activities, neck education, and exercise therapy focused on issues such as spine anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, common causes of neck pain, the load tolerance model, nociceptive pain processing, self-care, and ergonomic suggestions for daily activities (e.g., standing, sitting, lifting).
Conventional physical therapy, including strengthening exercises for deep neck flexors, rhomboids, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior (2 sets of 10 repetitions per day) and stretching exercises for pectoralis muscles (20-second hold, 5 repetitions).
Inclusion Criteria:
Office workers using a computer for at least 4 hours per day.
Aged between 28 and 48 years.
Neck pain scored between 3 and 8 cm on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating unbearable pain).
Chronic nonspecific neck pain lasting more than 3 months.
Willingness and ability to safely participate in an exercise program without cognitive impairments.
Specific postural changes seen in UCS, including forward head posture, increased cervical lordosis and thoracic kyphosis, elevated and protracted shoulders, and scapular rotation, abduction, or winging.
Exclusion Criteria:
Specific causes of neck pain (e.g., systemic, rheumatic, or neuromuscular diseases), central or peripheral neurological signs, cognitive impairments, spinal surgery, or physiotherapy treatments in the 6 months prior to baseline assessment.
Participants missing at least three consecutive or four non-consecutive sessions.
Instrumentation:
For Assessment:
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to assess cervical pain.
CROM device to assess cervical range of motion (ROM) and cervical proprioception.
Neck Disability Index (NDI) to assess neck function.
For Treatment:
Smartphone app called "Kyphosis and Rounded Back" .
Global Postural Re-education.
Traditional evidence-based physiotherapy.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- The Effect of Integrating a Smartphone Application with Global Postural Re-education on Cervical Proprioception in Patients with Upper Cross Syndrome Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Participants: The sample size will be determined using G power analysis. Procedures: Patients of both sexes (men and women) suffering from cervical pain caused by Upper Cross Syndrome (UCS) will be randomly selected from El Amal Clinic in Fayoum. They will be randomly assigned into three groups: Group A: Participants will undergo experimental interventions for approximately 50 minutes a day, 4 days a week, for an 8-week period. Exercises will be assisted and reminded by a smartphone app at predetermined times. Group B: Participants will undergo the same experimental interventions for approximately 50 minutes a day, 4 days a week, for an 8-week period, without app assistance. The exercises include: Exercise 1: The lying posture with leg extension progression, aimed to stretch the anterior muscle c
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Group A: underwent the experimental interventions about 50 min a day, 4 days a week for an 8-week | Experimental | Other: smartphone app exercises |
| • Group B: underwent the experimental interventions about 50 min a day, 4 days a week for an 8-week | Experimental | Other: lying posture with progression• Group B: underwent the experimental interventions about 50 min a day, 4 days a week for an 8-week period. |
| • control group: The participants in the performed an evidence-based physiotherapy program about 50 | Active comparator | Other: Conventional physical therapy• control group: The participants in the performed an evidence-based physiotherapy program about 50 min a day, 4 days a week for an 8-week period, described as a postural correction on daily activities . |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 28 to 48 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- office workers(using a computer at least 4 h),
- aged between 28 and 48years,
- NP between 3 and 8 cm on a visual analog scale(VAS) (from 0 indicating no pain at all to 10 indicating unbearable pain),
- Chronic non specific neck pain lasting for more than 3 months (Fathollahnejad et al., 2019).
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- • Specific causes of NP (e.g., systemic, rheumatic, neuromuscular diseases), central or peripheral neurological signs, cognitive impairment, spinal surgery, or physical therapy treatments in the last 6 months prior to the baseline assessment.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional physical therapyincluding strengthening exercises for deep neck flexors, rhomboids, lower trapezius and serratus anterior, (2 sets of 10 repetitions per day) and stretching exercises for pectoralis muscles (20seconds hold, 5 repetition. | Other | • control group: The participants in the performed an evidence-based physiotherapy program about 50 |
| lying posture with progressionExercise 1, the lying posture with leg extension progression, was aimed to stretch the anterior muscle chain (diaphragm, pectoralis minor, scalene, sternocleidomastoid, intercostalis, iliopsoas, arm, forearm, and hand flexors)(Bonetti et al., 2010). Exercise 2, the lying posture with flexion of the thighs, was intended to stretch the posterior chain (upper trapezius, levator scapulae, suboccipital, erector spinae, gluteus maximus, ischiotibial, triceps surae, and foot intrinsic muscles). | Other | • Group B: underwent the experimental interventions about 50 min a day, 4 days a week for an 8-week |
| smartphone app exercisesabout 50 min a day, 4 days a week for an 8-week period also, performed exercises which were reminded by a smartphone app at predetermined times. | Other | Group A: underwent the experimental interventions about 50 min a day, 4 days a week for an 8-week |
Primary outcome
VAS (visual analogue scale)
Time frame: 8 weeks
1. VAS (visual analogue scale) to assess cervical pain.
2 secondary outcomes
Cervical ROM
Time frame: 8 weeks
Neck disability index (NDI)
Time frame: 8 weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 30 Jan 2025.
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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.
Kafr El-Sheikh university contact
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Conventional physical therapy, lying posture with progression and smartphone app exercises in people with Upper Cross Syndrome, run by Cairo University.
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 4 inclusion and 2 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Jan 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Kafr El-Sheikh university (047 3109590, rania49.ahmed@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
VAS (visual analogue scale) (time frame: 8 weeks). 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 30 Jan 2025.