Breast FeedingNCT07766148
Scapular Stabilization Exercises Combined With Thoracic Mobilization in Breast Feeding Mothers With Upper Back Pain
A study testing Scapular Stabilization Exercises and Thoracic Spine Mobilization in people with Breast Feeding, run by University of Lahore at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
Upper-back pain is common among breastfeeding mothers and may be associated with prolonged feeding positions, forward-bent posture, reduced thoracic mobility, and weakness of the muscles controlling the shoulder blades. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 35 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Breast Feeding
- What is being tested?
- Scapular Stabilization Exercises and Thoracic Spine Mobilization
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 70 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 24 Feb 2026to 21 Jul 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- 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 to 35 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Women in the early postpartum period (0-3 months following childbirth) (Ratajczak \& Górnowicz, 2024).
- Women who were exclusively breastfeeding and experiencing upper back pain associated with breastfeeding activities within the first 3 months postpartum (Ojukwu et al., 2025).
- Participants reporting moderate upper back pain, defined as a score of 4-7 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) at the time of recruitment (Bharti et al., 2024).
Who cannot join
- History of cervical spine trauma, surgery, or fracture (Yan et al., 2023).
- Presence of neurological disorders, cervical radiculopathy, myelopathy, or musculoskeletal conditions unrelated to breastfeeding that could influence neck pain, cervical mobility, or functional performance (Yonus et al., 2025).
- Diagnosed systemic illnesses or medical conditions that may contraindicate exercise participation, such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoporosis, uncontrolled hypertension, cardiovascular disease, or other inflammatory or metabolic disorders affecting the musculoskeletal system (Womsi et al., 2025).
- Concurrent pain in other body regions (e.g., shoulder, thoracic spine, upper back, or upper extremity pain) that could interfere with exercise participation or influence outcome measurements (Rana et al., 2024).
- Ongoing physiotherapy, rehabilitation, or medical treatment for neck pain during the study period (Ratajczak \& Górnowicz, 2024).
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Upper-back pain is common among breastfeeding mothers and may be associated with prolonged feeding positions, forward-bent posture, reduced thoracic mobility, and weakness of the muscles controlling the shoulder blades. This study will compare scapular stabilization exercises combined with thoracic spine mobilization with scapular stabilization exercises alone in breastfeeding mothers experiencing upper-back pain.
Seventy eligible breastfeeding mothers aged 18-35 years will be assigned to one of two treatment groups. Both groups will receive scapular stabilization exercises, while one group will additionally receive thoracic mobilization performed by a trained physiotherapist. Treatment will be provided three times per week for eight weeks.
Pain intensity, functional ability, and spinal range of motion will be assessed at baseline, Week 4, and Week 8. The study aims to determine whether adding thoracic mobilization to scapular stabilization exercises provides greater improvement in pain, mobility, and daily functioning than scapular stabilization exercises alone.
Read the detailed description
This assessor-blinded, randomized clinical trial will be conducted at the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital, Lahore. Seventy breastfeeding mothers will be recruited using purposive sampling and randomly allocated by lottery method to two equal groups of 35 participants. Eligible participants will be women aged 18-35 years who are within three months after childbirth, exclusively breastfeeding, and experiencing breastfeeding-related upper-back pain rated between 4 and 7 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale.
Before treatment, participants in both groups will receive a standardized warm-up consisting of a moist hot pack applied to the cervical and upper-thoracic regions, followed by gentle stretching. Group A will receive scapular stabilization exercises combined with thoracic mobilization. The exercise programme will include scapular retraction and depression, serratus anterior punches, wall slides, and prone horizontal abduction with scapular setting. Thoracic mobilization will be performed by a trained physiotherapist to improve thoracic extension and segmental mobility and reduce stiffness. Group B will receive the same scapular stabilization exercise programme without thoracic mobilization. Exercise difficulty will be progressively increased by adding repetitions and resistance.
The interventions will be delivered three times per week for eight weeks. Each exercise session will last approximately 30-35 minutes, with an additional 10-15 minutes of thoracic mobilization for Group A. The outcome assessor will remain unaware of participants' group assignments.
The primary outcome will be pain intensity, assessed using the 11-point Numeric Pain Rating Scale. Secondary outcomes will include functional ability measured using the Patient-Specific Functional Scale and spinal range of motion measured in degrees using a digital inclinometer. Assessments will be completed at baseline, Week 4, and Week 8.
Data will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Data distribution will be assessed before analysis. Changes over time and differences between groups will be examined using repeated-measures analysis of variance, with post-hoc pairwise comparisons where appropriate. Statistical significance will be set at p≤0.05.
- Conditions
- Breast Feeding
- Being tested
- Scapular Stabilization Exercises, Thoracic Spine Mobilization
- Keywords
- Breast Feeding, Exercise Therapy, Musculoskeletal Pain, Postpartum Period, Thoracic Vertebrae
- Medical subject headings
- Breast Feeding, Musculoskeletal Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Scapular Stabilization ExercisesOther
Participants will perform a structured scapular stabilization programme three times per week for eight weeks. Each session will include scapular retraction and depression, serratus anterior punches, wall slides, and prone horizontal abduction with scapular setting. Exercises will be performed in three sets of 10-12 repetitions, with 5-second holds where appropriate. The programme will be progressively advanced every two weeks by increasing repetitions and introducing resistance bands. Sessions will include a standardized warm-up and stretching of the upper trapezius and levator scapulae.
Thoracic Spine MobilizationOther
A trained physiotherapist will administer manual mobilization to clinically identified hypomobile thoracic spinal segments. The intervention will focus on improving thoracic extension and segmental mobility and reducing stiffness and pain around the cervicothoracic region. Mobilization will be performed before the exercise programme for approximately 10-15 minutes per session, three times per week for eight weeks. The mobilization technique and intensity will be selected according to the participant's clinical presentation and tolerance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Scapular Stabilization Exercises With Thoracic Mobilization | Experimental | Participants will receive scapular stabilization exercises combined with thoracic spine mobilization three times per week for eight weeks. Exercises will include scapular retraction and depression, serratus anterior punches, wall slides, and prone horizontal abduction with scapular setting. Each exercise will be performed in three sets of 10-12 repetitions, with 5-second holds where appropriate. Exercise intensity will be progressively increased every two weeks by increasing repetitions and adding resistance bands. A trained physiotherapist will also provide thoracic mobilization for approximately 10-15 minutes per session to improve thoracic mobility and reduce stiffness. Receives: Other: Scapular Stabilization Exercises; Other: Thoracic Spine Mobilization |
| Scapular Stabilization Exercises Alone | Active comparator | Participants will receive scapular stabilization exercises alone three times per week for eight weeks. Exercises will include scapular retraction and depression, serratus anterior punches, wall slides, and prone horizontal abduction with scapular setting. Each exercise will be performed in three sets of 10-12 repetitions, with 5-second holds where appropriate. Exercise intensity will be progressively increased every two weeks by increasing repetitions and adding resistance bands. Thoracic mobilization will not be provided to this group. Receives: Other: Scapular Stabilization Exercises |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Pain Intensity Assessed Using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), an 11-point self-reported scale ranging from 0 ("no pain") to 10 ("worst imaginable pain"). Participants will rate their average upper-back pain experienced during the previous 24 hours. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity. Change in NPRS score from baseline to post-intervention will be analyzed.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention
Secondary outcomes (2)
Change in Thoracic and Cervicothoracic Range of Motion
Thoracic and cervicothoracic range of motion will be measured in degrees using a digital inclinometer. Movements assessed will include flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion, and right and left rotation. Measurements will be taken with the participant seated upright. Three trials will be performed for each movement, and the mean value will be used for analysis. Higher values indicate greater range of motion.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention
Change in Functional Ability Assessed Using the Patient-Specific Functional Scale
Functional ability will be assessed using the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS). Participants will identify three to five daily activities affected by upper-back pain, such as breastfeeding, lifting, or prolonged sitting. Each activity will be rated from 0 ("unable to perform") to 10 ("able to perform at the previous level"). The mean score of the identified activities will be calculated. Higher scores indicate better functional ability.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Aug 2026
- Study start24 Feb 2026
- Primary completion14 Jul 2026
- Study completion21 Jul 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Breast FeedingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of LahoreThe 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
- 70 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Lahore
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Marrium Tahir Iqbal, University of Lahore
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07766148
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UOL/IREB/26/19/01/0015
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 10 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 14 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
El-Sadany, A., Mohamed, N., & Ibrahim, M. (2024). Effect of scapular stabilization training on pain and function in patients with postural neck pain: A randomized controlled study. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 40(5), 621-630. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2023.2254771
Ashfaq, A., Awan, W. A., & Ahmad, S. (2024). Responsiveness of numeric pain rating scale and visual analogue scale in patients with musculoskeletal pain: A prospective study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 25(1), 118. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-024-07245-8
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Scapular Stabilization Exercises Combined With Thoracic Mobilization in Breast Feeding Mothers With Upper Back Pain
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07766148
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- UOL/IREB/26/19/01/0015
- Conditions
- Breast Feeding
- Keywords
- Breast Feeding, Exercise Therapy, Musculoskeletal Pain, Postpartum Period, Thoracic Vertebrae
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 70 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of LahoreUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 24 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 14 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 21 Jul 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 14 Aug 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.
Upper-back pain is common among breastfeeding mothers and may be associated with prolonged feeding positions, forward-bent posture, reduced thoracic mobility, and weakness of the muscles controlling the shoulder blades. This study will compare scapular stabilization exercises combined with thoracic spine mobilization with scapular stabilization exercises alone in breastfeeding mothers experiencing upper-back pain.
Seventy eligible breastfeeding mothers aged 18-35 years will be assigned to one of two treatment groups. Both groups will receive scapular stabilization exercises, while one group will additionally receive thoracic mobilization performed by a trained physiotherapist. Treatment will be provided three times per week for eight weeks.
Pain intensity, functional ability, and spinal range of motion will be assessed at baseline, Week 4, and Week 8. The study aims to determine whether adding thoracic mobilization to scapular stabilization exercises provides greater improvement in pain, mobility, and daily functioning than scapular stabilization exercises alone.
Detailed description
This assessor-blinded, randomized clinical trial will be conducted at the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital, Lahore. Seventy breastfeeding mothers will be recruited using purposive sampling and randomly allocated by lottery method to two equal groups of 35 participants. Eligible participants will be women aged 18-35 years who are within three months after childbirth, exclusively breastfeeding, and experiencing breastfeeding-related upper-back pain rated between 4 and 7 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale.
Before treatment, participants in both groups will receive a standardized warm-up consisting of a moist hot pack applied to the cervical and upper-thoracic regions, followed by gentle stretching. Group A will receive scapular stabilization exercises combined with thoracic mobilization. The exercise programme will include scapular retraction and depression, serratus anterior punches, wall slides, and prone horizontal abduction with scapular setting. Thoracic mobilization will be performed by a trained physiotherapist to improve thoracic extension and segmental mobility and reduce stiffness. Group B will receive the same scapular stabilization exercise programme without thoracic mobilization. Exercise difficulty will be progressively increased by adding repetitions and resistance.
The interventions will be delivered three times per week for eight weeks. Each exercise session will last approximately 30-35 minutes, with an additional 10-15 minutes of thoracic mobilization for Group A. The outcome assessor will remain unaware of participants' group assignments.
The primary outcome will be pain intensity, assessed using the 11-point Numeric Pain Rating Scale. Secondary outcomes will include functional ability measured using the Patient-Specific Functional Scale and spinal range of motion measured in degrees using a digital inclinometer. Assessments will be completed at baseline, Week 4, and Week 8.
Data will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Data distribution will be assessed before analysis. Changes over time and differences between groups will be examined using repeated-measures analysis of variance, with post-hoc pairwise comparisons where appropriate. Statistical significance will be set at 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Scapular Stabilization Exercises With Thoracic Mobilization | Experimental | Other: Scapular Stabilization Exercises, Other: Thoracic Spine MobilizationParticipants will receive scapular stabilization exercises combined with thoracic spine mobilization three times per week for eight weeks. Exercises will include scapular retraction and depression, serratus anterior punches, wall slides, and prone horizontal abduction with scapular setting. Each exercise will be performed in three sets of 10-12 repetitions, with 5-second holds where appropriate. Exercise intensity will be progressively increased every two weeks by increasing repetitions and adding resistance bands. A trained physiotherapist will also provide thoracic mobilization for approximately 10-15 minutes per session to improve thoracic mobility and reduce stiffness. |
| Scapular Stabilization Exercises Alone | Active comparator | Other: Scapular Stabilization ExercisesParticipants will receive scapular stabilization exercises alone three times per week for eight weeks. Exercises will include scapular retraction and depression, serratus anterior punches, wall slides, and prone horizontal abduction with scapular setting. Each exercise will be performed in three sets of 10-12 repetitions, with 5-second holds where appropriate. Exercise intensity will be progressively increased every two weeks by increasing repetitions and adding resistance bands. Thoracic mobilization will not be provided to this group. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 35 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Women in the early postpartum period (0-3 months following childbirth) (Ratajczak \& Górnowicz, 2024).
- Women who were exclusively breastfeeding and experiencing upper back pain associated with breastfeeding activities within the first 3 months postpartum (Ojukwu et al., 2025).
- Participants reporting moderate upper back pain, defined as a score of 4-7 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) at the time of recruitment (Bharti et al., 2024).
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- History of cervical spine trauma, surgery, or fracture (Yan et al., 2023).
- Presence of neurological disorders, cervical radiculopathy, myelopathy, or musculoskeletal conditions unrelated to breastfeeding that could influence neck pain, cervical mobility, or functional performance (Yonus et al., 2025).
- Diagnosed systemic illnesses or medical conditions that may contraindicate exercise participation, such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoporosis, uncontrolled hypertension, cardiovascular disease, or other inflammatory or metabolic disorders affecting the musculoskeletal system (Womsi et al., 2025).
- Concurrent pain in other body regions (e.g., shoulder, thoracic spine, upper back, or upper extremity pain) that could interfere with exercise participation or influence outcome measurements (Rana et al., 2024).
- Ongoing physiotherapy, rehabilitation, or medical treatment for neck pain during the study period (Ratajczak \& Górnowicz, 2024).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Scapular Stabilization ExercisesParticipants will perform a structured scapular stabilization programme three times per week for eight weeks. Each session will include scapular retraction and depression, serratus anterior punches, wall slides, and prone horizontal abduction with scapular setting. Exercises will be performed in three sets of 10-12 repetitions, with 5-second holds where appropriate. The programme will be progressively advanced every two weeks by increasing repetitions and introducing resistance bands. Sessions will include a standardized warm-up and stretching of the upper trapezius and levator scapulae. | Other | Scapular Stabilization Exercises Alone, Scapular Stabilization Exercises With Thoracic Mobilization |
| Thoracic Spine MobilizationA trained physiotherapist will administer manual mobilization to clinically identified hypomobile thoracic spinal segments. The intervention will focus on improving thoracic extension and segmental mobility and reducing stiffness and pain around the cervicothoracic region. Mobilization will be performed before the exercise programme for approximately 10-15 minutes per session, three times per week for eight weeks. The mobilization technique and intensity will be selected according to the participant's clinical presentation and tolerance. | Other | Scapular Stabilization Exercises With Thoracic Mobilization |
Primary outcome
Change in Pain Intensity Assessed Using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), an 11-point self-reported scale ranging from 0 ("no pain") to 10 ("worst imaginable pain"). Participants will rate their average upper-back pain experienced during the previous 24 hours. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity. Change in NPRS score from baseline to post-intervention will be analyzed.
2 secondary outcomes
Change in Thoracic and Cervicothoracic Range of Motion
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention
Change in Functional Ability Assessed Using the Patient-Specific Functional Scale
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention
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 14 Aug 2026.
- BackgroundEl-Sadany, A., Mohamed, N., & Ibrahim, M. (2024). Effect of scapular stabilization training on pain and function in patients with postural neck pain: A randomized controlled study. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 40(5), 621-630. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2023.2254771
- BackgroundAshfaq, A., Awan, W. A., & Ahmad, S. (2024). Responsiveness of numeric pain rating scale and visual analogue scale in patients with musculoskeletal pain: A prospective study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 25(1), 118. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-024-07245-8
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Breast Feeding
Recruiting
Short-Term Reduced Dietary Protein in ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer Patients During Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Breast Cancer, Hormone Receptor Positive / HER2-negative Breast Cancer
RecruitingObservational study
Improving Nutrition for Babies Born by Caesarean Section
Breastfeeding Mothers of Legal Age, Their Babies Under 6 Months Old Born Vaginally
Recruiting
Effects of a Mindful Self-Compassion Intervention on Psychological Adjustment in Breast Cancer Survivors
Breast Cancer
RecruitingPhase 4
A Study to Measure Mirikizumab Levels in Breast Milk of Lactating Participants Receiving Mirikizumab Therapeutically for an Approved Indication
Lactation, Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Enrolling by invitation
Development and Implementation of a Breastfeeding Program for Post-Cesarean Section Women Based on the 5A Nursing Model
Breastfeeding Rates
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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Scapular Stabilization Exercises and Thoracic Spine Mobilization in people with Breast Feeding, run by University of Lahore 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 3 inclusion and 5 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 14 Aug 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?
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?
Change in Pain Intensity Assessed Using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (time frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention). 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 NCT07766148, which also lists 2 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 14 Aug 2026.