Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Enrolling by Invitation

NCT Number: NCT07684092

Diaphragmatic Breathing and Electroacupuncture for Chronic Neck Pain

Chronic non specific neck pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder with significant impact on pain, forward head posture, and neck disability. Diaphragmatic breathing has been shown to improve relaxation and reduce musculoskeletal pain, while electroacupuncture has potential benefits in modulating pain pathways. However, the combined effect of these interventions in chronic neck pain remains unexplored. This randomized clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of diaphragmatic breathing and electroacupuncture, in addition to physiotherapy care, compared to simple, focused breathing, electroacupuncture, and physiotherapy care. The primary outcomes are the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) and neck disability index (NDI), while secondary outcome include craniovertebral angle (CVA).

Enrolling by Invitation

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Conditions

Chronic Neck Pain Agnosia Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurologic Manifestations Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Perceptual Disorders Signs and Symptoms

Age range

20 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Lahore Teaching Hospital

Lahore, Punjab Province, 54782, Pakistan

About this study

Chronic neck pain (CNP) is characterized as persisting pain for more than 3 months, which has a longer expected recovery time. It may be linked to a deficiency or modification of the proprioception of the neck muscles, which is essential for head motor control, cervical joint position, and postural stability (PS). In terms of pain and disability, neck discomfort presents a significant medical problem for patients. According to reports, neck pain is a major cause of illness and a global hardship. The most typical signs of the aforementioned condition are localized, dull, and deep muscle discomfort. Additional symptoms include exhaustion, stiffness, pain, decreased activity, involvement restriction, and difficulty performing coordinated motions.

Standard physiotherapy for persistent neck pain, which includes stretching, isometric exercises, and hot pack therapy, has been shown in recent trials (2021-2024) to effectively reduce pain and improve function. Isometric exercises, self-stretching, active range of motion, heat packs, and self-mobilization methods were all used in this recent randomized controlled experiment.

A breathing technique called diaphragmatic breathing training encourages maximum exhalation, enhances lung ventilation, and facilitates the release of secretions from the trachea. The objectives of these exercises are to modify the recruitment of respiratory muscles, decrease hyperinflation, enhance respiratory muscle function, maximise thoracoabdominal mobility, and lessen dyspnoea. Through diaphragmatic respiration, they can support trunk stability and lung function and posture correction.

CNP is also treated in traditional medicine using various techniques. Electroacupuncture (EA) is one of such techniques; it is safe and doesn't require medication, and numerous studies have shown that it effectively reduces pain and enhances patients' quality of life. Electroacupuncture (EA) is a modified form of acupuncture in which, following a traditional acupuncture procedure, weak electronic currents are applied through the needles.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients having a history of the previous 3 months of chronic neck pain
  • NPRS 4-7
  • Patients having paradoxical breathing
  • CVA less than 49 degrees

Exclusion criteria

  • Congenital abnormality of the cervical spine
  • Post-traumatic neck pain
  • Hemorrhagic diseases
  • Radiculopathy

Treatment and study plan

physiotherapy care, diaphragmatic breathing, and electroacupuncture

Other
  • Physiotherapy care: 30 minutes of physiotherapy, including 10 minutes of hot pack, neck isometrics (muscle setting exercises) (10x10) 3 sets for 10 minutes, and stretching exercises for 10 minutes.
  • Diaphragmatic breathing: 10 min per session in a comfortable supine position or focusing on slow, deep inhalation with diaphragmatic expansion will reduce pain threshold and prepare the patients to receive the electroacupuncture.
  • Electroacupuncture: Electrical stimulation with acupuncture needles will be applied to the targeted muscle group for 10 minutes per session by a certified practitioner. The targeted muscles will be the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, splenius capitis, and anterior scalene.
  • Treatment schedule: The session will consist of 30 minutes of physiotherapy care, 10 minutes of diaphragmatic breathing, and 10 minutes of electroacupuncture

physiotherapy care, simple focused breathing exercises, and electroacupuncture

Other
  • Physiotherapy care: 30 minutes of physiotherapy, including 10 minutes of hot pack, neck isometrics (muscle setting exercises) (10x10) 3 sets for 10 minutes, and stretching exercises for 10 minutes.
  • Simple focused breathing exercises: 10 minutes per session of simple, focused breathing exercises.
  • Electroacupuncture: Electrical stimulation with acupuncture needles will be applied to the targeted muscle group for 10 minutes per session by a certified practitioner. The targeted muscles will be the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, splenius capitis, and anterior scalene.
  • Treatment schedule: The session will consist of 30 minutes of physiotherapy care, 10 minutes of simple focused breathing exercises, and 10 minutes of electroacupuncture.

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain Intensity

    Time frame: Baseline 1st, 3rd and at 6th week of intervention

    Pain intensity will be assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, an 11 point scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst pain imaginable. Higher scores indicate greater pain (worse outcome).

  2. Neck Disability

    Time frame: Baseline 1st, 3rd and at 6th week of intervention

    Neck disability will be assessed using the Neck Disability Index Urdu version , a 10-item questionnaire with a total score ranging from 0 to 50. Higher scores indicate greater disability (worse outcome).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Craniovertebral Angle (CVA)

    Time frame: Baseline 1st, 3rd and at 6th week of intervention

    Craniovertebral angle will be measured in degrees (°) using Kinovea software version 0.8.27 (64-bit) from standardized lateral photographs. The craniovertebral angle is calculated as the angle between a horizontal line passing through the spinous process of C7 and a line joining C7 to the tragus of the ear. Higher CVA values indicate improved head and neck posture (better outcome), whereas lower values indicate greater forward head posture (worse outcome).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Lahore

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Diaphragmatic Breathing and Electroacupuncture in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jul 6, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 9, 2026

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.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.