Neck PainDYNEXNCT07395011
The Effectiveness of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) Exercises Compared to Localized Exercises and Standard Care on Pain Intensity, Neck Dysfunction, and Upper Cervical Range of Motion in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
A study testing Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) Exercises and Local Exercises in people with Neck Pain and Neck Pain Musculoskeletal, run by Hochschule Osnabruck.
Trial summary
Many people experience long-lasting neck pain, which can affect daily life, work, and overall well-being. This study aims to find out which type of exercise program is most effective in reducing neck pain, improving neck movement, and making daily activities easier. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 50 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Neck Pain, Neck Pain Musculoskeletal, Chronic Neck Pain
- What is being tested?
- Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) Exercises and Local Exercises
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 45 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 2 Feb 2026to 31 Dec 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 50 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- between 18 and 50 years of age. This ensures a homogeneous population that in-cludes both young adults and middle-aged individuals.
- have suffered from neck pain continuously for at least 12 weeks, as described by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)
- have current neck pain greater than 40 on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) (on a scale of 0 to 100).
- have an NDI score of over 10 points.
Who cannot join
- Cancer
- Patients with existing or previous fractures in the cervical spine
- Patients who have undergone surgery on the cervical spine
- Patients who, in addition to neck pain, also have or have had dizziness or balance disorders
- People with osteoporosis
- Fibromyalgia
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- People with diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis
- People with red flags identified during a thorough physical examination
- Patients with neurological deficits identified during a thorough physical examination
- Participants who have undergone physiotherapy within the last 3 months.
About this study
Many people experience long-lasting neck pain, which can affect daily life, work, and overall well-being. This study aims to find out which type of exercise program is most effective in reducing neck pain, improving neck movement, and making daily activities easier.
What Is Being Studied?:
Read more
The study compares three different types of treatment:
DNS Exercises (Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization):
Whole-body exercises focusing on posture, breathing, and core stability.
Localized Neck Exercises:
Targeted exercises for the neck and shoulder muscles.
Standard Care:
Usual physiotherapy treatment commonly provided in clinical practice.
Study Procedures:
Participants are randomly assigned to one of the three groups. Each participant receives individual exercise instruction from a physiotherapist.
Participants are also given simple home exercises to perform on their own. The study lasts for about 12 weeks.
What Will Be Measured?:
At the beginning, during, and at the end of the study, the following will be assessed:
Neck pain intensity (pain scale) Neck range of motion How much the pain affects daily life and activities
Possible Benefits:
Participants may experience:
Less neck pain Improved neck mobility Better overall body awareness Even if not every participant notices improvement, taking part will help researchers improve future treatment options for chronic neck pain.
Risks:
No major risks are expected. All exercises are supervised by qualified physiotherapists and adjusted to each participant's abilities.
Participation can be stopped at any time if discomfort or pain occurs.
Voluntary Participation and Data Privacy:
Participation is completely voluntary. All personal data will be kept confidential and analyzed anonymously for research purposes only.
Participants may withdraw from the study at any time without any disadvantages.
- Being tested
- Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) Exercises, Local Exercises, Usual Care
- Medical subject headings
- Neck Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) ExercisesOther
Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) is a physiotherapy approach based on developmental kinesiology. It uses specific postural and breathing exercises to restore spinal stability, improve motor control, and enhance cervical function under physiotherapist supervision.
Local ExercisesOther
Localized neck exercises target deep and superficial cervical muscles through specific strengthening, motor control, and stabilization drills. The program includes chin tucks, resisted movements, and scapular stabilization, supervised by a physiotherapist to improve pain, function, and coordination.
Usual CareOther
Usual care includes standard physiotherapy for chronic neck pain: patient education, manual therapy, heat application, and general stretching or mobility exercises. Treatment follows typical clinical practice and is adjusted to individual needs.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| DNS_Group | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) Exercises |
| Local_Exercise | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Local Exercises |
| Usual_Care | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Usual Care |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Numeric Ratic Scale
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
Secondary outcomes (3)
Neck Disability Index
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
Flexio Rotation Test
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Feb 2026
- Study start2 Feb 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Neck PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Hochschule Osnabruck
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07395011
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- WiSo_BA_PTB_WiSe25-26_1_1
- Acronym
- DYNEX
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 31 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 9 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 9 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effectiveness of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) Exercises Compared to Localized Exercises and Standard Care on Pain Intensity, Neck Dysfunction, and Upper Cervical Range of Motion in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07395011
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- DYNEX / WiSo_BA_PTB_WiSe25-26_1_1
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Hochschule OsnabruckUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 2 Feb 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 9 Feb 2026 (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.
Many people experience long-lasting neck pain, which can affect daily life, work, and overall well-being. This study aims to find out which type of exercise program is most effective in reducing neck pain, improving neck movement, and making daily activities easier.
What Is Being Studied?:
The study compares three different types of treatment:
DNS Exercises (Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization):
Whole-body exercises focusing on posture, breathing, and core stability.
Localized Neck Exercises:
Targeted exercises for the neck and shoulder muscles.
Standard Care:
Usual physiotherapy treatment commonly provided in clinical practice.
Study Procedures:
Participants are randomly assigned to one of the three groups. Each participant receives individual exercise instruction from a physiotherapist.
Participants are also given simple home exercises to perform on their own. The study lasts for about 12 weeks.
What Will Be Measured?:
At the beginning, during, and at the end of the study, the following will be assessed:
Neck pain intensity (pain scale) Neck range of motion How much the pain affects daily life and activities
Possible Benefits:
Participants may experience:
Less neck pain Improved neck mobility Better overall body awareness Even if not every participant notices improvement, taking part will help researchers improve future treatment options for chronic neck pain.
Risks:
No major risks are expected. All exercises are supervised by qualified physiotherapists and adjusted to each participant's abilities.
Participation can be stopped at any time if discomfort or pain occurs.
Voluntary Participation and Data Privacy:
Participation is completely voluntary. All personal data will be kept confidential and analyzed anonymously for research purposes only.
Participants may withdraw from the study at any time without any disadvantages.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| DNS_Group | Experimental | Other: Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) Exercises |
| Local_Exercise | Experimental | Other: Local Exercises |
| Usual_Care | Experimental | Other: Usual Care |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 50 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- between 18 and 50 years of age. This ensures a homogeneous population that in-cludes both young adults and middle-aged individuals.
- have suffered from neck pain continuously for at least 12 weeks, as described by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)
- have current neck pain greater than 40 on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) (on a scale of 0 to 100).
- have an NDI score of over 10 points.
Key exclusion criteria (10 listed)
- Cancer
- Patients with existing or previous fractures in the cervical spine
- Patients who have undergone surgery on the cervical spine
- Patients who, in addition to neck pain, also have or have had dizziness or balance disorders
- People with osteoporosis
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) ExercisesDynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) is a physiotherapy approach based on developmental kinesiology. It uses specific postural and breathing exercises to restore spinal stability, improve motor control, and enhance cervical function under physiotherapist supervision. | Other | DNS_Group |
| Local ExercisesLocalized neck exercises target deep and superficial cervical muscles through specific strengthening, motor control, and stabilization drills. The program includes chin tucks, resisted movements, and scapular stabilization, supervised by a physiotherapist to improve pain, function, and coordination. | Other | Local_Exercise |
| Usual CareUsual care includes standard physiotherapy for chronic neck pain: patient education, manual therapy, heat application, and general stretching or mobility exercises. Treatment follows typical clinical practice and is adjusted to individual needs. | Other | Usual_Care |
Primary outcome
Numeric Ratic Scale
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
3 secondary outcomes
Neck Disability Index
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
Flexio Rotation Test
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 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 9 Feb 2026.
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) Exercises and Local Exercises in people with Neck Pain and Neck Pain Musculoskeletal, run by Hochschule Osnabruck.
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 10 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 9 Feb 2026. 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?
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?
Numeric Ratic Scale (time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 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 9 Feb 2026.