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Mechanical Neck PainNCT07723001

Effects of Thoracic Spine and Cervical Spine Mobilization on Pain, Functional Disability, and Quality of Life in Patients With Mechanical Neck Pain.

A study testing Cervical Spine Maitland Mobilization and Thoracic plus Cervical Spine Maitland Mobilization in people with Mechanical Neck Pain, run by Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences at 1 site in Pakistan.

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

Mechanical neck pain (MNP) is characterized as neck discomfort mostly originating from musculoskeletal components such as cervical facet joints, intervertebral discs, ligaments, and musculature, in the absence of indications of nerve root compression or severe pathological conditions. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 20 to 40 years
Conditions the study is for
Mechanical Neck Pain
What is being tested?
Cervical Spine Maitland Mobilization and Thoracic plus Cervical Spine Maitland Mobilization
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
66 participants
Where
1 sitePakistan
Study dates
1 May 2026to 15 Sep 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 20 to 40 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Participants of both genders aged between 20 and 40 years with a clinical diagnosis of mechanical neck pain will be included in the study. Eligible participants must have a history of neck pain lasting more than 4 weeks (subacute to chronic) and demonstrate mild to moderate functional disability, defined by a Neck Disability Index (NDI) score between 10% and 50%.

Who cannot join

  • Participants will be excluded if they present with signs or symptoms of cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy, such as a positive Spurling's test accompanied by neurological deficits, dermatomal numbness, or myotome weakness. Individuals with a history of cervical spine fracture, dislocation, or spinal surgery, as well as those with inflammatory, infectious, or neoplastic spinal conditions, will also be excluded. Additional exclusion criteria include diagnosed osteoporosis or prolonged use of systemic corticosteroids, severe cervical spine instability or vertebrobasilar insufficiency, recent trauma to the cervical or thoracic spine within the past 6 months, presence of systemic neurological disorders, pregnancy, and current participation in another physiotherapy or clinical trial for neck pain.

Trial locations and contacts

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

Dr.Tariq Shafi, MSPT contact

+923454190056

muhammad.tariq@ubas.edu.pk

Ahmad Arshad, MSPT contact

+923018822967

Mianahmadarshad3@gmail.com

Pakistan1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Lahore University of Biological & Applied Sciences (UBAS)

    Lahore, Punjab Province, 53400

    Dr.Muhammad Tariq Shafi, MSPT, +923454190056, muhammad.tariq@ubas.edu.pk

    Recruiting

Other trials in Pakistan

About this study

Mechanical neck pain (MNP) is characterized as neck discomfort mostly originating from musculoskeletal components such as cervical facet joints, intervertebral discs, ligaments, and musculature, in the absence of indications of nerve root compression or severe pathological conditions. Although recent evidence supports the use of both cervical and thoracic mobilization for mechanical neck pain, there remains limited comparative research examining their combined or relative effects on pain, functional disability, and quality of life. A total of 66 Participants with mechanical neck pain (> 4 weeks) will be randomly allocated into two groups: Group A (Cervical spine Maitland mobilization group) will receive cervical spine Maitland mobilization throughout the 8-week intervention period, with sessions conducted twice weekly from pre-treatment to post-treatment assessment, Each session will be lasted approximately 30 minutes, consisting of manual therapy followed by standardized therapeutic exercises, supervised exercises will be performed for approximately 15 minutes. Additionally, participants in both groups will be prescribed a daily home exercise program lasting 10-15 minutes. Group B (Thoracic Plus Cervical Spine Maitland Mobilization) will receive combined thoracic and cervical spine Maitland mobilization, Thoracic mobilization will be applied to the upper thoracic segments (T1-T4) using central PA Technique. Grades III and IV mobilizations for thoracic stiffness and restore extension mobility, while lower grades will be applied in cases of increased pain sensitivity. Thoracic mobilization will be delivered for approximately 6-8 minutes, after that cervical mobilization with same protocol of supervised exercise and home pan for mechanical neck pain will be used. Each treatment session will be lasted approximately 30 minutes. Outcome measures will include: Pain intensity assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Functional disability will be evaluated using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), Health-related quality of life will be measured using the Short Form-36 (SF-36). The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of cervical spine mobilization and thoracic spine mobilization on pain intensity, functional disability, and quality of life in patients with mechanical neck pain.

Read the detailed description

Mechanical neck pain (MNP) is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by localized or unilateral neck pain arising from cervical musculoskeletal structures, without nerve root involvement. It is frequently associated with restricted cervical and thoracic mobility, muscle stiffness, reduced range of motion, and functional limitations, which can significantly impair daily activities, work performance, and overall quality of life. Due to its high prevalence and recurrent nature, effective conservative physiotherapy management is essential.

Among commonly used physiotherapy interventions, spinal mobilization techniques particularly cervical spine mobilization and thoracic spine mobilization are widely applied to reduce pain, improve joint mobility, and enhance functional outcomes. Cervical mobilization focuses on restoring segmental mobility of the cervical spine and modulating pain through mechanical and neurophysiological mechanisms. In contrast, thoracic spine mobilization targets the upper thoracic region to improve extension mobility and reduce biomechanical stress on the cervical spine through the concept of regional interdependence. Although both techniques are frequently used in clinical practice, there is limited comparative evidence regarding their individual and combined effectiveness in patients with mechanical neck pain.

This study is designed as a two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial. A total of 66 participants diagnosed with mechanical neck pain will be recruited using a convenience sampling technique. Participants will be randomly allocated into two groups using computer-generated randomization with a 1:1 allocation ratio. Allocation concealment will be ensured using sealed opaque envelopes, and outcome assessment will be performed by a blinded assessor.

Participants in Group A will receive cervical spine Maitland mobilization applied to symptomatic cervical segments (C2-C7) using graded oscillatory techniques for pain reduction and mobility improvement. Participants in Group B will receive combined thoracic and cervical spine Maitland mobilization, where thoracic mobilization will be applied to upper thoracic segments (T1-T4) followed by cervical mobilization within the same session.

Both groups will receive standardized physiotherapy care, including patient education on posture and ergonomics, along with a structured home exercise program focusing on cervical mobility and postural control. The intervention will be conducted over a period of 8 weeks, with 2 sessions per week. Each session will last approximately 30 minutes.

Outcome measures will include pain intensity assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), functional disability measured by the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and quality of life evaluated using the Short Form-36 (SF-36). Assessments will be conducted at baseline, mid-intervention (4 weeks), and post-intervention (8 weeks).

Data will be analyzed using SPSS software. Normality of data will be assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, and appropriate parametric or non-parametric tests will be applied for within-group and between-group comparisons.

This study aims to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of cervical spine mobilization alone versus combined thoracic and cervical spine mobilization in improving pain, functional disability, and quality of life in patients with mechanical neck pain, thereby contributing to evidence-based physiotherapy practice.

Being tested
Cervical Spine Maitland Mobilization, Thoracic plus Cervical Spine Maitland Mobilization

What participants receive

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

  • Cervical Spine Maitland MobilizationOther

    Participants in this group will receive cervical spine Maitland mobilization in addition to standard physiotherapy care. The program will be delivered for 8 weeks, with 2 sessions per week, each session lasting approximately 30 minutes. Mobilization will be performed according to the Maitland concept, with Grades I and II techniques applied for pain modulation and Grades III and IV for improving joint mobility, depending on patient tolerance. Each targeted cervical segment (C2-C7) will receive 3 sets of oscillations lasting 30-60 seconds, with short rest intervals between sets. The intervention aims to restore segmental mobility, reduce pain, and improve functional outcomes.

  • Thoracic plus Cervical Spine Maitland MobilizationOther

    Participants in this group will receive combined thoracic and cervical spine Maitland mobilization in addition to standard physiotherapy care. The program will be conducted for 8 weeks, with 2 sessions per week, each session lasting approximately 30 minutes. Thoracic mobilization will be applied to upper thoracic segments (T1-T4) using central posterior-to-anterior oscillatory techniques, primarily Grades III and IV to improve extension mobility. This will be followed by cervical spine mobilization using the same protocol as Group A. Thoracic mobilization will be performed for approximately 6-8 minutes, followed by cervical mobilization for 8-10 minutes. The combined approach aims to reduce cervical mechanical stress through regional interdependence, improve mobility, and enhance pain relief and functional outcomes.

Study groups in NCT07723001
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Cervical Spine Maitland MobilizationExperimentalParticipants in this group will receive cervical spine Maitland mobilization along with standardized physiotherapy care, including patient education on posture, ergonomics, and a structured home exercise program. The intervention will be conducted for 8 weeks, with 2 sessions per week, each lasting approximately 30 minutes. Cervical mobilization will be applied to symptomatic segments (C2-C7) using graded oscillatory techniques to reduce pain and improve cervical mobility
Receives: Other: Cervical Spine Maitland Mobilization
Thoracic plus Cervical Spine Maitland MobilizationActive comparatorParticipants in this group will receive combined thoracic and cervical spine Maitland mobilization along with standardized physiotherapy care, including posture education and a structured home exercise program. The intervention will be conducted for 8 weeks, with 2 sessions per week, each lasting approximately 30 minutes. Thoracic mobilization will be applied to improve thoracic mobility, followed by cervical mobilization to reduce pain and enhance function.
Receives: Other: Thoracic plus Cervical Spine Maitland Mobilization

What is being measured

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

  1. Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Neck Disability Index, Short Form-36 (SF-36)

    Outcome assessment will be conducted at baseline (pre-treatment), at 4 weeks (mid-intervention), and at 8 weeks (post-intervention). Pain intensity will be measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), functional disability using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and quality of life using the Short Form-36 (SF-36). Data will be analyzed using appropriate statistical tests to compare within-group and between-group differences.

    Measured: Baseline, 4 weeks, and 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 posted23 Jul 2026
  2. Study start1 May 2026
  3. Primary completion30 Jul 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion15 Sep 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
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
66 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07723001
Sponsor's protocol ID
UBAS/ERB/26/04/021
Status last verified
Jul 2026
First submitted
20 Jul 2026
Last updated
23 Jul 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: baseline participants

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Cervical Spine Maitland Mobilization and Thoracic plus Cervical Spine Maitland Mobilization in people with Mechanical Neck Pain, run by Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences at 1 site in Pakistan.

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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Jul 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 Pakistan. 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 Dr.Tariq Shafi, MSPT (+923454190056, muhammad.tariq@ubas.edu.pk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Neck Disability Index, Short Form-36 (SF-36) (time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, and 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 23 Jul 2026.

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