Scapular Muscle Strengthening Combined With Core Stabilization Exercises in Telephone Operators With Neck Pain

Scapular muscle strengthening combined with core stabilization exercises is an effective intervention for reducing neck pain in telephone operators. Prolonged sitting, forward head posture, and repetitive upper-limb use in this population often lead to scapular dyskinesis and poor trunk control, increasing cervical spine stress. Strengthening the scapular stabilizers (such as the middle and lower trapezius and serratus anterior) improves shoulder girdle alignment and reduces overload on cervical muscles. When combined with core stabilization exercises, which enhance trunk stability and postural control, overall biomechanical efficiency is improved. This combined approach has been shown to decrease pain intensity, improve neck function, enhance posture, and reduce work-related musculoskeletal strain in telephone operators with neck pain.

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Key information

Conditions

Work-related Neck Pain

Age range

20 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

1. Aged between 20 and 60 years(Kang, Im, & Kim, 2021) 2. Both male and female(Hetaimish et al., 2024) 3. Sitting job during an 8-hour shift and worked telephone, and documents.(Tabanfar, Sobhani, Safari Variani, & Varmazyar, 2023) 4. Employed 6 months ago 5. The patients included in this study if they have CVA equal or less than 50(Abd El-Azeim et al., 2022) 6. Neck pain with mild neck disability (NDI score 5-15)(Pawaria, Sudhan, & Kalra, 2019) 7. A score of 4-7 for the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)(Kang et al., 2021)

Exclusion criteria

1. History of traumatic cervical spine injuries ,Inflammatory arthropathy 2. Infectious spondylitis, severe osteoporosis, cervical disc protrusion, cervical spine fractures or dislocations, previous cervical surgery, and intractable migraines.(Tian et al., 2025a) 3. intermittent neck pain, transient neck pain or any radiation of the pain to the upper extremity (neurological origin of the pain)

Treatment and study plan

Scapular Muscle Strengthening Combined with Core Stabilization Exercises

Other

This intervention consists of a structured therapeutic exercise program focusing on strengthening the scapular stabilizing muscles (including the middle and lower trapezius and serratus anterior) combined with core stabilization exercises targeting the deep abdominal and lumbar muscles. The program is designed to improve postural alignment, enhance trunk and shoulder girdle stability, and reduce mechanical stress on the cervical spine. Exercises are performed under supervision with progressive intensity over the intervention period. The intervention is specifically tailored for telephone operators experiencing work-related neck pain.

Conventional Neck Exercise Program

Other

This intervention consists of conventional physiotherapy exercises commonly used for the management of work-related neck pain. The program includes cervical range-of-motion exercises, stretching of neck and shoulder muscles, and basic isometric strengthening of the cervical musculature. No specific scapular muscle strengthening or core stabilization exercises are included. The exercises are supervised and performed according to standard clinical practice guidelines for neck pain management, serving as a comparator to evaluate the added effects of scapular strengthening combined with core stabilization exercises.

Primary outcomes

Neck Pain

Time frame: 6 weeks

Neck disability index

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Lahore

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2026
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Mar 18, 2026
Registry last updated: Mar 20, 2026

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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.