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Non-specific Neck PainNCT07150143

Effects of Connective Tissue Massage and Physical Modalities Combined With Stabilization Exercises in Chronic Neck Pain

A study testing Exercise, Connective tissue massage and Infrared therapy in people with Non-specific Neck Pain, run by Fenerbahce University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This randomized, double-blinded controlled trial aims to investigate the comparative effects of connective tissue massage and physical modalities, when combined with cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercises, in individuals with chronic non-specific neck pain. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Non-specific Neck Pain
What is being tested?
Exercise, Connective tissue massage and Infrared therapy
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
27 participants
Where
1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
Study dates
12 Sep 2025to Oct 2026
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 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Being between 18 and 65 years of age,
  • Having non-specific chronic neck pain localized to the posterior cervical spine between the occipital region and the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra,
  • Being able to cooperate with the assessments to be performed in the study.

Who cannot join

  • Neck pain resulting from trauma within the past 6 months;
  • A history of surgery related to cervical problems;
  • Clinical signs of cervical radiculopathy and/or myelopathy;
  • Inflammatory arthritis involving the cervical spine;
  • Tumors or infections of the cervical spine;
  • Vertebrobasilar artery insufficiency;
Show all 9Show fewer
  • Neurological disorders (such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, or syringomyelia);
  • Congenital anomalies affecting the spine; systemic diseases (such as diabetes mellitus);
  • Shoulder pathologies (including tendinitis, bursitis, or capsulitis).

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Burcu AKKURT, PhD contact

+905536046713

burcu.akkurt@fbu.edu.tr

Turkey (Türkiye)1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Fenerbahçe Üniversitesi

    Ataşehir, Istanbul, 34734

    Burcu AKKURT, Assistant Professor, 05536046713, burcu.akkurt@fbu.edu.tr

    burcu.akkurt@fbu.edu.tr

    Recruiting

Other trials in Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Official title: Comparative Effects of Connective Tissue Massage and Physical Modalities Added to Cervical and Scapulothoracic Stabilization Exercises on Pain, Function, and Endurance in Individuals With Chronic Neck Pain

This randomized, double-blinded controlled trial aims to investigate the comparative effects of connective tissue massage and physical modalities, when combined with cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercises, in individuals with chronic non-specific neck pain. A total of 51 participants aged 18-65 years will be randomly assigned into three groups. Group 1 will perform stabilization exercises alone, Group 2 will receive stabilization exercises plus connective tissue massage, and Group 3 will receive stabilization exercises plus electrotherapy modalities (infrared, continuous ultrasound, and TENS). The interventions will be conducted twice weekly for 8 weeks, and participants will also perform home-based exercises daily. Primary outcomes include pain, disability, and endurance, while secondary outcomes focus on quality of life, cervical range of motion, and scapular function.

Read the detailed description

Chronic non-specific neck pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder that adversely affects pain, functional capacity, and quality of life. Stabilization-based exercise programs are commonly recommended; however, the added benefits of connective tissue massage and physical modalities require further investigation.

This randomized, double-blinded controlled trial is designed to compare the effects of (1) stabilization exercises alone, (2) stabilization exercises combined with connective tissue massage, and (3) stabilization exercises combined with electrotherapy modalities (infrared therapy, continuous ultrasound, and TENS) on clinical outcomes in individuals with chronic non-specific neck pain.

A total of 51 participants between 18 and 65 years of age will be randomly allocated into three equal groups. All groups will receive supervised exercise sessions twice weekly for 8 weeks, each lasting 50 minutes (10 minutes of warm-up, 30 minutes of cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization, and 10 minutes of cool-down). Additionally, participants will be instructed to perform a one-hour home exercise program daily, supported with illustrated brochures.

The primary outcomes are:

  • Pain (Bournemouth Neck Questionnaire)
  • Disability (Neck Disability Index)
  • Endurance (Deep Cervical Flexor Test)

The secondary outcomes are:

  • Quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF)
  • Cervical range of motion
  • Scapular function (Lateral Scapular Slide Test and Scapular Dyskinesis Test)

By comparing these approaches, the study aims to determine whether the addition of connective tissue massage or physical modalities enhances the therapeutic effects of stabilization exercises on pain, function, and endurance in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain.

Being tested
Exercise, Connective tissue massage, Infrared therapy, Continuous ultrasound, Conventional TENS
Keywords
non-specific neck pain, scapulothoracic stabilization exercises, connective tissue massage, electrotherapy

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • ExerciseOther

    Each exercise session lasts 50 minutes, consisting of a 10-minute warm-up, 30 minutes of stabilization exercises, and a 10-minute cool-down. Stabilization exercises are selected from an exercise pool according to the individual's needs, with progression ensuring throughout the program. The exercises will be administered face-to-face twice a week for eight weeks, and participants will be provided with illustrated brochures and instructed to perform a one-hour home exercise program daily.

  • Connective tissue massageOther

    Connective tissue massage will be applied, starting from the basic regions and gradually incorporating other regions.

  • Infrared therapyOther

    Infrared therapy will be applied for 20 minutes

  • Continuous ultrasoundOther

    Continuous ultrasound will be applied to the right and left sides for 7 minutes each at an intensity of 2 W/cm².

  • Conventional TENSOther

    20 minutes of conventional TENS will be administered to the painful area.

Study groups in NCT07150143
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
ExerciseActive comparatorEach exercise session lasts 50 minutes, consisting of 10 minutes of warm-up, 30 minutes of stabilization exercises, and 10 minutes of cool-down. Stabilization exercises will be selected from an exercise pool according to the individual's needs, with progression ensured throughout the program. The exercises will be administered face-to-face twice a week for eight weeks, and participants will be provided with illustrated brochures and instructed to perform a one-hour home exercise program daily.
Receives: Other: Exercise
Exercise, and Connective tissue massageExperimentalEach exercise session lasts 50 minutes, consisting of 10 minutes of warm-up, 30 minutes of stabilization exercises, and 10 minutes of cool-down. Stabilization exercises will be selected from an exercise pool according to the individual's needs, with progression ensured throughout the program. The exercises will be administered face-to-face twice a week for eight weeks, and participants will be provided with illustrated brochures and instructed to perform a one-hour home exercise program daily. In this group, in addition to these exercises, connective tissue massage will be applied, starting from the basic regions and gradually incorporating other regions.
Receives: Other: Exercise; Other: Connective tissue massage
Exercise, and Electro-physical modalitiesExperimentalEach exercise session lasts 50 minutes, consisting of 10 minutes of warm-up, 30 minutes of stabilization exercises, and 10 minutes of cool-down. Stabilization exercises will be selected from an exercise pool according to the individual's needs, with progression ensured throughout the program. The exercises will be administered face-to-face twice a week for eight weeks, and participants will be provided with illustrated brochures and instructed to perform a one-hour home exercise program daily. Also, the electrotherapy program consists of 20 minutes of infrared therapy, continuous ultrasound will be applied to the right and left sides for 7 minutes each at an intensity of 2 W/cm², and 20 minutes of conventional TENS will be administered to the painful area.
Receives: Other: Exercise; Other: Infrared therapy; Other: Continuous ultrasound; Other: Conventional TENS

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Neck Disability Index

    To assess disability in neck pain, only the Neck Disability Index (NDI), which evaluates current pain and disability, was used. The NDI consists of 10 items grouped into 6 subdomains. Each item is scored on a scale from 0 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater levels of disability.

    Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks

  2. Deep Cervical Flexor Test

    To evaluate deep neck flexor muscle endurance, the Deep Cervical Flexor Test was used. This test assesses the maximal contraction capacity of the deep cervical flexor muscles. It is performed in the supine position, with the participant lifting the head approximately 2.5 cm off the surface while maintaining chin retraction. The examiner places a hand under the participant's occiput. The test is terminated when cervical flexion is lost or the participant's head touches the examiner's hand, and the duration is recorded in seconds.

    Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks.

  3. Cervical Range of Motion Assessment

    Cervical range of motion was assessed using a universal goniometer. The participant was seated in an upright position, and measurements were taken for cervical flexion, extension, right and left rotation, and right and left lateral flexion. For flexion and extension, the acromion was accepted as the pivot point, with the stationary arm held parallel to the ground and the movable arm aligned with the ear line. For rotation, a straight rod was placed between the participant's teeth, the midline of the head was accepted as the pivot point, the stationary arm was kept parallel to the ground, and the movable arm was aligned with the rod. For lateral flexion, the spinous process of C7 was accepted as the pivot point, the stationary arm was positioned parallel to the ground, and the movable arm was aligned with the spinous processes of the cervical vertebrae. Care was taken to ensure that the head was not rotated during the measurements.

    Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks

  4. Bournemouth Neck Questionnaire

    For pain assessment, the Bournemouth Neck Questionnaire, which focuses on the participant's current symptoms over the past week, was used. The questionnaire evaluates aspects such as onset, localization, duration, type and characteristics of pain, aggravating and relieving factors, history of previous treatments, and accompanying symptoms. The Bournemouth Neck Questionnaire consists of 7 items, each scored on a scale from 0 to 10. The maximum score is 70, with higher scores indicating greater disability.

    Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks.

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Quality of Life Assessment

    The World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument, Short Form (WHOQOL-BREF) was used to assess the quality of life of the participants. The WHOQOL-BREF was developed by the World Health Organization and consists of six domains. Since each domain independently reflects the quality of life within its own scope, domain scores are calculated on a scale ranging from 4 to 20. Higher scores indicate better quality of life.

    Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks.

  2. Lateral Scapular Slide Test

    The Lateral Scapular Slide Test (LSST) is a clinical assessment used to evaluate scapular positioning and detect scapular dyskinesis by measuring the distance between the inferior angle of the scapula and the spinous process at various arm positions.

    Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks.

  3. Scapular Dyskinesis Test

    In the Scapular Dyskinesis Test, a load of 2.3 kg is used for individuals weighing 68.1 kg or more, and a load of 1.4 kg is used for those weighing less than 68.1 kg. Participants are instructed to hold the weights with the thumbs pointing upward, elbows extended, and shoulders in a neutral position, and to actively perform bilateral shoulder flexion and abduction. Each movement is repeated five times, during which scapular motion is observed. The presence of scapular winging or dysrhythmia during the movements is recorded as either "dyskinesis present" or "dyskinesis absent".

    Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks.

  4. Scapular Retraction Test

    The Scapular Retraction Test is used to grade the strength of the supraspinatus muscle. The test begins with the traditional Empty Can Test, in which the patient's shoulder is placed in internal rotation, 90 degrees of flexion, and the scapular plane position ("scaption"). The examiner applies a downward force to the patient's arm while the patient resists. The test is then repeated with the examiner manually stabilizing the scapula in a retracted position. To achieve this, the examiner's fingers firmly grasp the patient's anterior shoulder over the clavicle, while the forearm is positioned along the medial border of the scapula. The test is considered positive if rotator cuff strength is restored, as indicated by the patient's improved ability to resist the examiner's downward force compared with the traditional Empty Can Test.

    Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted2 Sep 2025
  2. Study start12 Sep 2025
  3. Primary completionNov 2025 (estimated)
  4. Study completionOct 2026 (estimated)

Resources

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
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
27 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07150143
Sponsor's protocol ID
2015-KAEK-63-22-07
Status last verified
Sep 2025
First submitted
24 Aug 2025
Last updated
18 Sep 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Exercise, Connective tissue massage and Infrared therapy in people with Non-specific Neck Pain, run by Fenerbahce University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

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 3 inclusion and 9 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Sep 2025. 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 Turkey (Türkiye). 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?

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 Burcu AKKURT, PhD (+905536046713, burcu.akkurt@fbu.edu.tr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Neck Disability Index (time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks). The study lists 4 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 18 Sep 2025.

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