Neck PainNCT07878845
Kinesiology Taping Versus Self-Mobilization for Neck Pain Related to Prolonged Electronic Device Use
A study testing Kinesiology Taping and Self-SNAG Mobilization in people with Neck Pain, run by Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether kinesiology taping or self-mobilization better reduces neck pain in adults who use electronic devices for long periods each day. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Neck Pain
- What is being tested?
- Kinesiology Taping and Self-SNAG Mobilization
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 27 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 17 Sep 2026to 10 Nov 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
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
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 18 years or older
- Neck pain with an intensity greater than 3 on a 10-point Visual Analog Scale
- Use of electronic devices for at least 4 hours per day during the preceding year
- Willingness to participate and provision of written informed consent
Who cannot join
- Cervical or shoulder surgery within the past 6 months
- Previously diagnosed cervical pathology, including whiplash-associated disorder, cervical spondylolisthesis, disc herniation, or rheumatoid arthritis
- Current use of analgesics, opioids, or corticosteroids
- Skin allergy, open wounds, or skin lesions in the cervical region that preclude kinesiology tape application
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 Kinesiology Taping Versus Self-Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glide Mobilization on Pain, Neck Disability, Cervical Proprioception, Respiratory Muscle Strength, and Upper Trapezius Muscle Activity in Individuals With Neck Pain Related to Prolonged Electronic Device Use: A Randomized Controlled Trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether kinesiology taping or self-mobilization better reduces neck pain in adults who use electronic devices for long periods each day. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Does kinesiology taping or self-mobilization lead to greater reduction in neck pain after 4 weeks?
- Do the two treatments differ in their effects on neck-related disability, neck position sense, breathing muscle strength, and upper trapezius muscle activity?
Read more
Researchers will compare kinesiology taping with self-sustained natural apophyseal glide (self-SNAG) mobilization to see which approach is more effective.
Participants will:
- Be randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups
- Receive kinesiology tape applied to the back of the neck every 4 days for 4 weeks, or learn and perform a towel-assisted neck self-mobilization exercise for 4 weeks
- Receive education on posture and self-management
- Complete assessments of pain, neck disability, neck position sense, breathing muscle strength, and neck-shoulder muscle activity at the start of the study, after 4 weeks, and 1 month later
Read the detailed description
Prolonged use of electronic devices is associated with sustained cervical flexion and altered activation of the cervicoscapular musculature, particularly the upper trapezius. Kinesiology taping and Mulligan self-mobilization are commonly used conservative approaches; however, their comparative effects on pain, cervical proprioception, respiratory muscle strength, and muscle activity in this population remain unclear.
In this single-blind, two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial, adults with neck pain (VAS > 3/10) and a history of electronic device use of at least 4 hours per day during the preceding year will be randomized to kinesiology taping (8 applications over 4 weeks) or self-SNAG mobilization performed with mirror-based visual feedback. Both groups will receive standardized education on posture and self-management.
Bilateral upper trapezius surface electromyography will be recorded during isometric shoulder elevation using a wireless sEMG system, with electrode placement according to SENIAM guidelines, and normalized to maximum voluntary isometric contraction. A bilateral upper trapezius EMG asymmetry index will be derived from the normalized right- and left-side values.
Primary and secondary outcomes will be analyzed using linear mixed-effects models with random intercepts for participants. As a pre-specified secondary analysis, the association between baseline bilateral upper trapezius EMG asymmetry and change in pain intensity will be examined, including its interaction with treatment group.
- Conditions
- Neck Pain
- Being tested
- Kinesiology Taping, Self-SNAG Mobilization
- Keywords
- Kinesiology Tape, Mulligan Mobilization, Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glide, Surface Electromyography, Upper Trapezius, Electronic Device Use, Joint Position Sense, Respiratory Muscle Strength
- Medical subject headings
- Neck Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Kinesiology TapingDevice
Elastic therapeutic tape applied to the posterior cervical region (Y-strip over the cervical extensors with approximately 25% tension and a perpendicular strip across C3-C6), reapplied every 4 days for 8 applications over 4 weeks.
Self-SNAG MobilizationOther
Towel-assisted self-administered sustained natural apophyseal glide at C5 with mirror-based visual feedback, 10 repetitions per session with 3-second end-range holds, performed over 4 weeks.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiology Taping | Experimental | Participants receive kinesiology tape (5 cm wide, 0.5 mm thick, water-resistant) applied to the posterior cervical region in a seated neutral position. A Y-strip is applied over the cervical extensors from T1-T2 to C1-C2 with approximately 25% tension, and a second strip is applied perpendicularly across C3-C6. The tape is reapplied every 4 days by a trained physiotherapist for a total of 8 applications over 4 weeks. Participants also receive standardized education on posture and self-management. Receives: Device: Kinesiology Taping |
| Self-SNAG Mobilization | Active comparator | Participants are trained by an experienced physiotherapist to perform towel-assisted self-administered sustained natural apophyseal glide (self-SNAG) mobilization at the C5 level, with mirror-based visual feedback. The end-range rotation position is sustained for 3 seconds, with 10 repetitions per session within a pain-free range, [frequency, e.g., once daily] for 4 weeks. Participants also receive standardized education on posture and self-management. Receives: Other: Self-SNAG Mobilization |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Neck Pain Intensity (Visual Analog Scale)
Neck pain intensity is assessed using a 10-point Visual Analog Scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst imaginable pain). Higher scores indicate greater pain.
Measured: Baseline and week 4 (end of intervention)
Secondary outcomes (4)
Change in Neck-Related Disability (Neck Disability Index)
Self-reported neck-related disability is assessed using the 10-item Neck Disability Index (total score 0-50). Higher scores indicate greater disability.
Measured: Baseline, week 4, and week 8
Change in Cervical Joint Position Sense Error
Cervical joint position sense error is measured in centimeters using a head-mounted laser pointer and a target placed 90 cm from the seated participant, following active cervical flexion, extension, and left and right rotation. The mean deviation across five repetitions per direction is recorded. Higher values indicate poorer proprioceptive accuracy.
Measured: Baseline, week 4, and week 8
Change in Upper Trapezius Muscle Activity (Surface Electromyography)
Bilateral upper trapezius activity is recorded with wireless surface electromyography during isometric shoulder elevation (three 7-second contractions) and expressed as root-mean-square amplitude normalized to maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC).
Measured: Baseline, week 4, and week 8
Bilateral Upper Trapezius EMG Asymmetry Index
EMG asymmetry is calculated from normalized right- and left-side upper trapezius activity as |Right - Left| / [(Right + Left) / 2] x 100. A value of 0% indicates perfect symmetry; higher values indicate greater bilateral imbalance. Baseline asymmetry will be examined as a predictor of change in pain intensity.
Measured: Baseline, week 4, and week 8
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Oct 2026
- Study start17 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion11 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion10 Nov 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
- Model description
- Participants are randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to one of two parallel groups: kinesiology taping or self-SNAG mobilization.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 27 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Bingol University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Emrah Zirek, Bingol University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07878845
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- BINGOL-7-5
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 11 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be shared publicly. De-identified data may be made available from the principal investigator upon reasonable request.