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NCT Number: NCT07048093

Development of Standard Guidelines for Relaxation Exercises in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain and Determination of Their Effectiveness

The goal of this observational study is to determine whether relaxation exercises performed before cranio-cervical flexion can reduce superficial neck muscle activation (specifically sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius) in individuals with neck pain.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does performing relaxation exercises prior to cranio-cervical flexion reduce sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle activation? * Does it reduce upper trapezius muscle activation during the standing?

Researchers will compare the group performing relaxation exercises before cranio-cervical flexion to the group performing only cranio-cervical flexion to see if there is a measurable difference in superficial neck muscle activation.

Participants will:

* Perform cranio-cervical flexion exercises. * Perform relaxation exercises prior to the cranio-cervical flexion (intervention group only). * Undergo surface EMG measurements to assess muscle activity.

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Key information

Conditions

Non Specific Chronic Neck Pain

Age range

22 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Knowledge of Turkish
  • Chronic (at least three months) neck pain
  • Neck pain level of 4 or higher on a numerical pain scale

Exclusion criteria

  • Neck pain caused by a tumor, trauma, or rheumatic disease
  • History of surgery involving the head, neck, shoulder, or thoracic region
  • Root compression
  • Regular use of painkillers due to another illness
  • Another illness severe enough to interfere with work

Treatment and study plan

Exercise

Other

Average of 10 minutes relaxation exercises guided with a standard audio record based on reciprocal and autogenic muscle inhibition, proprioceptive training and postural training.

Sham (No Treatment)

Other

This group take no treatment between actual before and after measurements.

Primary outcomes

  1. Numerical Pain Rating Scale

    Time frame: At enrollment (pre-intervention) and immediately after the relaxation exercise intervention or sham intervention (Day 1)

    On the numerical pain scale, the patient will be asked, "0 means no pain at all, 10 means unbearable pain, representing the worst pain/unbearable pain you have ever experienced. On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you rate your pain?"

  2. Turkish Version of Core Outcome Measure Index for Neck Pain

    Time frame: At enrollment (pre-intervention)

    The first question consists of two 10-point numerical pain scales that ask about neck and arm-shoulder pain. Whichever of these two questions receives a higher response is used. The other five questions are five point Likert-type response questions. The six items cover five dimensions: pain intensity (neck and arm/shoulder pain), neck-related function, symptom-specific well-being, overall quality of life, and disability (social and work). The total score is calculated by taking the average of all responses. To form the Core Outcome Measure Index summary score, each of the dimension scores is transformed to a 0-10 scale and these are then averaged to give a score ranging from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating a worse status.

  3. EMG Activation Level of Sternocleidomastoid Muscle During Craniocervical Flexion Maneuver

    Time frame: At enrollment (pre-intervention) and immediately after the relaxation exercise intervention (Day 1)

    EMG Activation Level of Sternocleidomastoid Muscle During Craniocervical Flexion Maneuver standardized with Stabilizer Pressure Biofeedback Device

  4. EMG Activation Level of Upper Trapezius Muscle During Standing Still

    Time frame: At enrollment (pre-intervention) and immediately after the relaxation exercise intervention (Day 1)

    EMG Activation Level of Upper Trapezius Muscle During Standing Still

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Utku Berberoğlu, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+902666121400 ext. 151315

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Balikesir University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jul 2, 2025
Registry last updated
Sep 22, 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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