Applied Virtual Reality Techniques In Musculoskeletal Assessment Of Cervical Ergonomic Disorders Among Dentists

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a virtual reality (VR)-based assessment system in identifying clinical, physical, and functional impairments related to neck pain and musculoskeletal disorders (NPMSDs) among dentists. Forty dentists with neck pain were assessed using a structured protocol including sociodemographic data collection, the Neck Disability Index, VR-based measurements of head posture and cervical motion (with and without pain), and muscle strength testing via a digital dynamometer. The study investigates the predictive value of VR-derived parameters-such as head alignment, range of motion, and movement time and degree-with regard to pain and functional status. Findings suggest that virtual reality can serve as an objective, non-invasive tool for evaluating cervical spine health in clinical settings.

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Key information

Conditions

Cervical Pain Neck Pain Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

25 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Yeditepe University

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Age group from 29 to 60 years.
All the participants with neck pain, with or without referral to the upper limb, longer than 4 weeks.
Etiology of mechanical neck pain due to dentists work.

Exclusion criteria

1. Suffering from visual or vestibular disorders. 2. chronic intake of drugs which may alter pain or performance . 3. after whiplash injury .

Treatment and study plan

Static Head posture

Diagnostic Test

After the participant sit down and put on the VR glasses, the VR will detect how many degrees the head position has displaced from the neutral position (X= 0, Y = 0, Z = 0). The x, y and z describe the head alignment, and in the table (3.3), they explain the 3D axis (X, Y, Z). Also in fig 3.3 the participant's head is in X=5.027058 Y=2.466827 Z=2.93206, which explains the degree of deviation from the neutral position.

Angular distance "ROM"

Diagnostic Test

Cervical range of motion assessment is achieved through virtual reality. After detecting the static head posture, Participants will be asked to flex their necks as far as possible toward their chins and anterior chests. Then elevate the head to the neutral and extend the neck to the most tolerable range. Following that, he/she performs maximal neck side-bending in both directions along the coronal plane. Lastly, each participant is required to return the neck to an upright position for the examination of the maximum angle of neck rotation by "turning the chin toward the right and then left shoulders" without shrugging the shoulders. All of the tests will be repeated three times, and the averaged values of neck movement in each direction will be taken for analysis

Primary outcomes

Neck Disability index

Time frame: Baseline (single time)

The Neck Disability Index is a ten-item self-reported questionnaire describing daily life, pain, and concentration. Each item is rated on a score from 0-5, with 0 indicating no disability and 5 indicating extreme disability. To be clinically meaningful, there must be a minimum clinically important difference (MCID) of 5 points, at least, from a total of 50 (Table 3.2). Many studies have confirmed that the NDI has a high degree of validity and reliability. The NDI has also been used as an outcome measure in a number of studies involving the treatment of neck pain and patients with whiplash injury

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Yeditepe University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2021
Primary completion: 2021
Study completion: 2022
First posted: Jul 29, 2025
Registry last updated: Jul 29, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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