Neck PainNCT07423052
Muscle and Biomechanical Factors in Football-Related Neck Pain
An observational study of Neck Pain, run by Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
The study aims to analyze the influence of muscular and biomechanical characteristics of the cervical spine on the onset and progression of neck pain in collegiate football players. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Neck Pain
- What is being tested?
- Time over a regular football season
- How many people
- 90 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- 5 Aug 2025to 20 Dec 2025
- Phase
- Observational
- 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 18 years and older
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: All players from Concordia university football team, Carabin football team and McGill university football team will be invited to participate.
Who may be able to join
- Being enrolled as a football player in a varsity team during 2025-2026 season.
Who cannot join
- None
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Canada1 site
Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (IUGM)
Montreal, Quebec, H3W
About this study
Official title: Neck Pain and Head Impacts: Evaluation of the Role of Muscular and Biomechanical Factors in Varsity Football Players.
The study aims to analyze the influence of muscular and biomechanical characteristics of the cervical spine on the onset and progression of neck pain in collegiate football players.
Read the detailed description
Repeated head impacts in contact sports are associated with an increased risk of concussion and persistent neck pain. While the neurological consequences of cranial impacts are well documented, the role of muscular and biomechanical factors of the cervical spine remains poorly understood. This study aims to examine their influence on the incidence and progression of neck pain in collegiate football players over the course of a season.This prospective cohort study will include between 40 and 60 collegiate football players assessed at three key time points (pre-season, mid-season, and post-season). Cervical range of motion, muscle activity (EMG), as well as cervical strength and endurance will be measured during these evaluations. Head impacts will be quantified throughout the football season using instrumented mouthguards. Players will complete questionnaires assessing neck pain, function, and disability. The data will analyze how head impacts, neck movements, and muscle activity influence symptom severity using advanced statistical methods that account for inter-individual variability.
- Conditions
- Neck Pain
- Being tested
- Time over a regular football season
- Keywords
- Cervical spine, Biomechanics, Muscle function, Electromyography, Range of motion
- Medical subject headings
- Neck Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Time over a regular football seasonOther
No intervention is specifically evaluated.
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Muscle activity in flexion at pre-season
Amplitude of neck muscle activity measured using surface electromyography electrodes during maximal voluntary contraction in neck flexion.
Measured: At pre-season (Day 0)
Muscle activity in flexion at post-season
Amplitude of neck muscle activity measured using surface electromyography electrodes during maximal voluntary contraction in neck flexion.
Measured: At post-season (around 4 months)
Muscle activity during endurance test at pre-season
Amplitude of neck muscle activity measured using surface electromyography electrodes during neck flexion endurance test.
Measured: At pre-season (day 0)
Muscle activity during endurance at post-season
Amplitude of neck muscle activity measured using surface electromyography electrodes during neck flexion endurance test.
Measured: At post-season (around 4 months)
Endurance time pre-season
Total time during neck flexion endurance test.
Measured: At pre-season (Day 0)
Endurance time at post-season
Total time during neck flexion endurance test.
Measured: At post-season (around 4 months)
Flexion-relaxation ratio at pre-season
Ratio between amplitude of neck muscle activity measured using surface electromyography electrodes during cervical flexion and full flexion.
Measured: At pre-season (Day 0)
Flexion-relation ratio at post-season
Ratio between amplitude of neck muscle activity measured using surface electromyography electrodes during cervical flexion and full flexion.
Measured: At post-season (around 4 months)
Force at pre-season
Amplitude of maximal voluntary contraction during neck flexion.
Measured: At pre-season (day 0)
Force at post-season
Amplitude of maximal voluntary contraction during neck flexion.
Measured: At post-season (around 4 months)
Range of motion at pre-season
Range of motion in flexion, extension, rotation and lateral flexion of the neck
Measured: At pre-season (day 0)
Range of motion at post-season
Range of motion in flexion, extension, rotation and lateral flexion of the neck
Measured: At post-season (around 4 months)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Feb 2026
- Study start5 Aug 2025
- Primary completion20 Dec 2025
- Study completion20 Dec 2025
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
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 90 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada, Quebec Pain Research Network
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Laurie-Ann Corbin-Berrigan, PhD, Principal investigator, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07423052
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UQTR_IP_Football_neck
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Jul 2025
- Last updated
- 20 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Neck Pain and Head Impacts: Evaluation of the Role of Muscular and Biomechanical Factors in Varsity Football Players.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07423052
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- UQTR_IP_Football_neck
- Conditions
- Neck Pain
- Keywords
- Cervical spine, Biomechanics, Muscle function, Electromyography, Range of motion
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 90 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Université du Québec à Trois-RivièresUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada, Quebec Pain Research Network
- Study start
- 5 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 20 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 20 Dec 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 20 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.
The study aims to analyze the influence of muscular and biomechanical characteristics of the cervical spine on the onset and progression of neck pain in collegiate football players.
Detailed description
Repeated head impacts in contact sports are associated with an increased risk of concussion and persistent neck pain. While the neurological consequences of cranial impacts are well documented, the role of muscular and biomechanical factors of the cervical spine remains poorly understood. This study aims to examine their influence on the incidence and progression of neck pain in collegiate football players over the course of a season.This prospective cohort study will include between 40 and 60 collegiate football players assessed at three key time points (pre-season, mid-season, and post-season). Cervical range of motion, muscle activity (EMG), as well as cervical strength and endurance will be measured during these evaluations. Head impacts will be quantified throughout the football season using instrumented mouthguards. Players will complete questionnaires assessing neck pain, function, and disability. The data will analyze how head impacts, neck movements, and muscle activity influence symptom severity using advanced statistical methods that account for inter-individual variability.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- All players from Concordia university football team, Carabin football team and McGill university football team will be invited to participate.
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Being enrolled as a football player in a varsity team during 2025-2026 season.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- None
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Time over a regular football seasonNo intervention is specifically evaluated. | Other | – |
Primary outcome
Muscle activity in flexion at pre-season
Time frame: At pre-season (Day 0)
Amplitude of neck muscle activity measured using surface electromyography electrodes during maximal voluntary contraction in neck flexion.
Muscle activity in flexion at post-season
Time frame: At post-season (around 4 months)
Amplitude of neck muscle activity measured using surface electromyography electrodes during maximal voluntary contraction in neck flexion.
Muscle activity during endurance test at pre-season
Time frame: At pre-season (day 0)
Amplitude of neck muscle activity measured using surface electromyography electrodes during neck flexion endurance test.
Muscle activity during endurance at post-season
Time frame: At post-season (around 4 months)
Amplitude of neck muscle activity measured using surface electromyography electrodes during neck flexion endurance test.
Endurance time pre-season
Time frame: At pre-season (Day 0)
Total time during neck flexion endurance test.
Endurance time at post-season
Time frame: At post-season (around 4 months)
Total time during neck flexion endurance test.
Flexion-relaxation ratio at pre-season
Time frame: At pre-season (Day 0)
Ratio between amplitude of neck muscle activity measured using surface electromyography electrodes during cervical flexion and full flexion.
Flexion-relation ratio at post-season
Time frame: At post-season (around 4 months)
Ratio between amplitude of neck muscle activity measured using surface electromyography electrodes during cervical flexion and full flexion.
Force at pre-season
Time frame: At pre-season (day 0)
Amplitude of maximal voluntary contraction during neck flexion.
Force at post-season
Time frame: At post-season (around 4 months)
Amplitude of maximal voluntary contraction during neck flexion.
Range of motion at pre-season
Time frame: At pre-season (day 0)
Range of motion in flexion, extension, rotation and lateral flexion of the neck
Range of motion at post-season
Time frame: At post-season (around 4 months)
Range of motion in flexion, extension, rotation and lateral flexion of the neck
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 20 Feb 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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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.
Laurie-Ann Corbin-Berrigan, PhD principal investigator
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Neck Pain, run by Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières at 1 site in Canada.
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 1 inclusion and 1 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 20 Feb 2026. 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 Canada. 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?
Muscle activity in flexion at pre-season (time frame: At pre-season (Day 0)). The study lists 12 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 20 Feb 2026.