Cervico BrachialgiaNCT07724665
Effects Of Scapulothoracic Intervention With Or Without Neural Mobilization In Patients With Cervico-Brachialgia
A study testing Scapulothoracic intervention with Neural Mobilization and Neural Mobilization in people with Cervico Brachialgia, run by Riphah International University.
Trial summary
Cervicobrachialgia is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by neck pain radiating into the upper limb due to neural and musculoskeletal dysfunctions. It is often associated with pain, functional disability, and increased neural mechanosensitivity, significantly affecting daily activities and quality of… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 30 to 50 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Cervico Brachialgia
- What is being tested?
- Scapulothoracic intervention with Neural Mobilization and Neural Mobilization
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 44 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Jul 2026to 30 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 30 to 50 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Cervicobrachial pain
- Females and males
- Aged 30-50 years
- Able to communicate and follow the instructions
- Able to perform cervical exercises according to cervicogenic pain
Who cannot join
- Negative neurodynamic test
- Neck and upper extremity surgery
- Vertebral instability
- Vertebral spine infection
- Neurological disease of genetic, infection, or neuroplastic origin
- Inflammatory or systemic disease
Show all 10Show fewer
- VBI symptoms
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Subjects with presence of any fractures.
- Heart/diabetic patient
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Effects Of Scapulothoracic Intervention With Or Without Neural Mobilization On Pain, Function, And Neural Mechano-Sensitivity In Patients With Cervico Brachialgia
Cervicobrachialgia is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by neck pain radiating into the upper limb due to neural and musculoskeletal dysfunctions. It is often associated with pain, functional disability, and increased neural mechanosensitivity, significantly affecting daily activities and quality of life. Various physiotherapy interventions have been used to manage this condition, including neural mobilization and scapulothoracic rehabilitation. However, evidence regarding the combined effectiveness of these interventions remains limited.
Read the detailed description
The aim of the study is to determine the effects of scapulothoracic intervention with or without neural mobilization on pain, function, and neural mechanosensitivity in patients with cervicobrachialgia.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial will be conducted on 40 patients diagnosed with cervicobrachialgia. Participants will be randomly allocated into two groups, with 20 participants in each group. Group A received scapulothoracic rehabilitation combined with neural mobilization (ST+NM), while Group B received neural mobilization alone (NM). Treatment will be administered according to the study protocol over the intervention period. Outcome measures includes the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for pain intensity, Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) for neck-related disability, PainDETECT Questionnaire (PDQ) for neuropathic pain symptoms, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire for upper limb function. Assessments were performed before and after the intervention. Data will be analyzed using paired sample t-tests, independent sample t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests with a significance level of p<0.05.
- Conditions
- Cervico Brachialgia
- Being tested
- Scapulothoracic intervention with Neural Mobilization, Neural Mobilization
- Keywords
- Disability, Mobilization, Neural, Pain, Scapula
- Medical subject headings
- Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Scapulothoracic intervention with Neural MobilizationOther
Neural Mobilization: Pain-free tension
- Scapular Mobilization:
- Grades III-IV joint mobs (elevation/depression/retraction)
- 3 sets × 10 reps
- Strengthening:
- Serratus punches (progress to resistance bands)
- Lower trap raises (prone Y-lifts)
- 3 sets × 12 reps
- Neural Mobilization:
- ULNT1 sliding technique (6 sec hold/6 sec rest)
Neural MobilizationOther
Neural Mobilization: Pain-free tension
- Cervical Isometrics:
- 4-way neck contractions (5-sec hold)
- 3 sets × 10 reps
- Postural Education:
- Ergonomics training
- Modalities:
- TENS (80Hz, 100μs) or moist heat pack
- Neural Mobilization:
- ULNT1 (same as Group A)
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Scapulothoracic intervention with Neural Mobilization | Experimental | Group A received Scapulothoracic intervention with Neural Mobilization Receives: Other: Scapulothoracic intervention with Neural Mobilization |
| Neural Mobilization | Active comparator | Group B received Neural Mobilization alone. Receives: Other: Neural Mobilization |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
The VAS is a common, subjective measurement tool that is used to measure the level of pain severity using an 11-point range with zero (no pain) and ten (heaviest pain imaginable). Patients use a subjective scale to rate their pain verbally and the following scales apply to 1-3 mild, 4-6 moderate, and 7-10 severe pain.
Measured: upto 6 weeks
Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ)
The NPQ is a 9- questionnaire assessing neck pain disability with each question put on a scale of 0 to 4(code converted to percentage). It examines nocturnal sleep, activities during the day, and social goals. With cervicobrachialgia, it is used to measure functional restrictiveness such as neck/arm pain. Scores: 0-20 percent (light), 21-40 percent (moderate), >40 percent (severe).
Measured: upto 6 weeks
Secondary outcomes (3)
PainDETECT questionnaire (PD-Q)
It is a 9-item instrument that has 7 scored items 0-5, and 2 items of the pain pattern characteristics of neuropathic pain in cervicobrachialgia. score 0-38: <13 (not likely neuropathic), 13-18 (indeterminate), >=19 (probable neuropathic). It assesses the quality of pain (burning, tingling etc.), radiation patterns.
Measured: upto 6 weeks
Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH)
The DASH assesses upper limb disability and is a 30 item questionnaire scaled 1-5. The total point (0-100) is counted: [(the sum of the responses/n) -1] x 25. The higher the score and the more they are disabled. The course is minimal clinically significant difference, 10 points. In case of cervicobrachialgia, it examines the impairment of arm functioning.
Measured: upto 6 weeks
FABF Questionnaire (FABQ)
FABQ contains 16 items consisting of two subscales namely, physical activity (4 items, 0-24) and work (7 items, 0-42). The more the score, the higher fear-avoidance. In cervicobrachialgia, scores above 14 (work) or 12 (physical activity), predict an unsatisfactory recovery.
Measured: upto 6 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Jul 2026
- Study startJul 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (10)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Cervico BrachialgiaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Riphah International 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
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 44 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Ramish Safraz, Principal investigator, Riphah International University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07724665
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- REC/RCR & AHS/25/0141
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 21 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 24 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Wagner FM. [Somatic dysfunction of the cervical spine and its complex clinical picture : The fundamentals of diagnostics of cervicobrachialgia and cervicocephalic syndrome through manual medicine]. Orthopade. 2022 Apr;51(4):263-273. doi: 10.1007/s00132-022-04228-7. Epub 2022 Mar 3. German.
PubMed 35238967Sanchez AC, Requena JBS, Pantaleaon LAL, Esqueda ATI, Raidi VMV, Gallardo IR, et al. # 36401 Post-traumatic compressive C6 cervicobrachialgia, not all that glitters is gold. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd; 2023.
Kerimova EK, Isaikin AI, Romanova AS, Bashlachev MG, Mouki K. Cervicalgia and cervicobrachialgia in periarticular cyst at the cervical level. Case report. Consilium Medicum. 2025;27(02):94-8.
Thomson S, Ainsworth G, Selvanathan S, Brown S, Croft J, Kelly R, Mujica-Mota R, Rousseau N, Higham R, Stocken D. Clinical and cost-effectiveness of PCF versus ACD in the treatment of cervical brachialgia (FORVAD trial). Br J Neurosurg. 2024 Feb;38(1):141-148. doi: 10.1080/02688697.2023.2267119. Epub 2024 Jan 27.
PubMed 37807634Fujastawan IGV. Management of Physiotherapy in Case of Brachialgia Due to Cervical Spondyloarthrosis. Science Midwifery. 2022;10(2):755-8.
Rani A, Chopra J, Singh RR, Bajpai PK. Prevalence of various anomalies of costal element at cervico-thoracic junction in and around lucknow region of uttarpradesh: A radiological study. Biomed Res. 2021;32(1):7-14.
AHMED AA, SHABAN M. Conservative Treatment of Cervical Discs without Myelopathy: A Three Years Follow-up. The Medical Journal of Cairo University. 2023;91(03):403-7.
Thomson S, Ainsworth G, Selvanathan S, Kelly R, Collier H, Mujica-Mota R, Talbot R, Brown ST, Croft J, Rousseau N, Higham R, Al-Tamimi Y, Buxton N, Carleton-Bland N, Gledhill M, Halstead V, Hutchinson P, Meacock J, Mukerji N, Pal D, Vargas-Palacios A, Prasad A, Wilby M, Stocken D. Posterior cervical foraminotomy versus anterior cervical discectomy for Cervical Brachialgia: the FORVAD RCT. Health Technol Assess. 2023 Oct;27(21):1-228. doi: 10.3310/OTOH7720.
PubMed 37929307Korman DV, Yushmanov IG. The influence of osteopathic correction to the level of stress in patients with cervicobrachialgia. Российский остеопатический. 2020:56.
Ilić J, Kostić A, Ilić M, Nikolov V, Stojanović N, Todorović S. Cervicobrachial syndrome: Prevalence and clinical correlation with coronavirus 2019 disease among hospitalized patients. Acta Medica Medianae. 2024;63(3).
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 24 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects Of Scapulothoracic Intervention With Or Without Neural Mobilization On Pain, Function, And Neural Mechano-Sensitivity In Patients With Cervico Brachialgia
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07724665
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- REC/RCR & AHS/25/0141
- Conditions
- Cervico Brachialgia
- Keywords
- Disability, Mobilization, Neural, Pain, Scapula
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 44 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 24 Jul 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.
Cervicobrachialgia is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by neck pain radiating into the upper limb due to neural and musculoskeletal dysfunctions. It is often associated with pain, functional disability, and increased neural mechanosensitivity, significantly affecting daily activities and quality of life. Various physiotherapy interventions have been used to manage this condition, including neural mobilization and scapulothoracic rehabilitation. However, evidence regarding the combined effectiveness of these interventions remains limited.
Detailed description
The aim of the study is to determine the effects of scapulothoracic intervention with or without neural mobilization on pain, function, and neural mechanosensitivity in patients with cervicobrachialgia.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial will be conducted on 40 patients diagnosed with cervicobrachialgia. Participants will be randomly allocated into two groups, with 20 participants in each group. Group A received scapulothoracic rehabilitation combined with neural mobilization (ST+NM), while Group B received neural mobilization alone (NM). Treatment will be administered according to the study protocol over the intervention period. Outcome measures includes the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for pain intensity, Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) for neck-related disability, PainDETECT Questionnaire (PDQ) for neuropathic pain symptoms, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire for upper limb function. Assessments were performed before and after the intervention. Data will be analyzed using paired sample t-tests, independent sample t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests with a significance level of p<0.05.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Scapulothoracic intervention with Neural Mobilization | Experimental | Other: Scapulothoracic intervention with Neural MobilizationGroup A received Scapulothoracic intervention with Neural Mobilization |
| Neural Mobilization | Active comparator | Other: Neural MobilizationGroup B received Neural Mobilization alone. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 30 to 50 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Cervicobrachial pain
- Females and males
- Aged 30-50 years
- Able to communicate and follow the instructions
- Able to perform cervical exercises according to cervicogenic pain
Key exclusion criteria (10 listed)
- Negative neurodynamic test
- Neck and upper extremity surgery
- Vertebral instability
- Vertebral spine infection
- Neurological disease of genetic, infection, or neuroplastic origin
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Scapulothoracic intervention with Neural MobilizationNeural Mobilization: Pain-free tension 1. Scapular Mobilization: * Grades III-IV joint mobs (elevation/depression/retraction) * 3 sets × 10 reps 2. Strengthening: * Serratus punches (progress to resistance bands) * Lower trap raises (prone Y-lifts) * 3 sets × 12 reps 3. Neural Mobilization: * ULNT1 sliding technique (6 sec hold/6 sec rest) | Other | Scapulothoracic intervention with Neural Mobilization |
| Neural MobilizationNeural Mobilization: Pain-free tension 1. Cervical Isometrics: * 4-way neck contractions (5-sec hold) * 3 sets × 10 reps 2. Postural Education: • Ergonomics training 3. Modalities: • TENS (80Hz, 100μs) or moist heat pack 4. Neural Mobilization: * ULNT1 (same as Group A) | Other | Neural Mobilization |
Primary outcome
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
Time frame: upto 6 weeks
The VAS is a common, subjective measurement tool that is used to measure the level of pain severity using an 11-point range with zero (no pain) and ten (heaviest pain imaginable). Patients use a subjective scale to rate their pain verbally and the following scales apply to 1-3 mild, 4-6 moderate, and 7-10 severe pain.
Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ)
Time frame: upto 6 weeks
The NPQ is a 9- questionnaire assessing neck pain disability with each question put on a scale of 0 to 4(code converted to percentage). It examines nocturnal sleep, activities during the day, and social goals. With cervicobrachialgia, it is used to measure functional restrictiveness such as neck/arm pain. Scores: 0-20 percent (light), 21-40 percent (moderate), >40 percent (severe).
3 secondary outcomes
PainDETECT questionnaire (PD-Q)
Time frame: upto 6 weeks
Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH)
Time frame: upto 6 weeks
FABF Questionnaire (FABQ)
Time frame: upto 6 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 24 Jul 2026.
- Background: PubMed 35238967Wagner FM. [Somatic dysfunction of the cervical spine and its complex clinical picture : The fundamentals of diagnostics of cervicobrachialgia and cervicocephalic syndrome through manual medicine]. Orthopade. 2022 Apr;51(4):263-273. doi: 10.1007/s00132-022-04228-7. Epub 2022 Mar 3. German.
- BackgroundSanchez AC, Requena JBS, Pantaleaon LAL, Esqueda ATI, Raidi VMV, Gallardo IR, et al. # 36401 Post-traumatic compressive C6 cervicobrachialgia, not all that glitters is gold. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd; 2023.
- BackgroundKerimova EK, Isaikin AI, Romanova AS, Bashlachev MG, Mouki K. Cervicalgia and cervicobrachialgia in periarticular cyst at the cervical level. Case report. Consilium Medicum. 2025;27(02):94-8.
- Background: PubMed 37807634Thomson S, Ainsworth G, Selvanathan S, Brown S, Croft J, Kelly R, Mujica-Mota R, Rousseau N, Higham R, Stocken D. Clinical and cost-effectiveness of PCF versus ACD in the treatment of cervical brachialgia (FORVAD trial). Br J Neurosurg. 2024 Feb;38(1):141-148. doi: 10.1080/02688697.2023.2267119. Epub 2024 Jan 27.
- BackgroundFujastawan IGV. Management of Physiotherapy in Case of Brachialgia Due to Cervical Spondyloarthrosis. Science Midwifery. 2022;10(2):755-8.
- BackgroundRani A, Chopra J, Singh RR, Bajpai PK. Prevalence of various anomalies of costal element at cervico-thoracic junction in and around lucknow region of uttarpradesh: A radiological study. Biomed Res. 2021;32(1):7-14.
- BackgroundAHMED AA, SHABAN M. Conservative Treatment of Cervical Discs without Myelopathy: A Three Years Follow-up. The Medical Journal of Cairo University. 2023;91(03):403-7.
- Background: PubMed 37929307Thomson S, Ainsworth G, Selvanathan S, Kelly R, Collier H, Mujica-Mota R, Talbot R, Brown ST, Croft J, Rousseau N, Higham R, Al-Tamimi Y, Buxton N, Carleton-Bland N, Gledhill M, Halstead V, Hutchinson P, Meacock J, Mukerji N, Pal D, Vargas-Palacios A, Prasad A, Wilby M, Stocken D. Posterior cervical foraminotomy versus anterior cervical discectomy for Cervical Brachialgia: the FORVAD RCT. Health Technol Assess. 2023 Oct;27(21):1-228. doi: 10.3310/OTOH7720.
- BackgroundKorman DV, Yushmanov IG. The influence of osteopathic correction to the level of stress in patients with cervicobrachialgia. Российский остеопатический. 2020:56.
- BackgroundIlić J, Kostić A, Ilić M, Nikolov V, Stojanović N, Todorović S. Cervicobrachial syndrome: Prevalence and clinical correlation with coronavirus 2019 disease among hospitalized patients. Acta Medica Medianae. 2024;63(3).
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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.
Ramish Safraz principal investigator
Riphah International University
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Scapulothoracic intervention with Neural Mobilization and Neural Mobilization in people with Cervico Brachialgia, run by Riphah International 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 5 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 24 Jul 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?
Contact Sumrod Akram (03324806143, samrood.akram@riphah.edu.pk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (time frame: upto 6 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07724665, which also lists 10 linked publications.
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 24 Jul 2026.