The Effect of Head and Neck Stretching Exercises on Voice, Anxiety and Psychological Resilience After Thyroidectomy

The aim of this clinical randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effects of head and neck stretching exercises performed after thyroidectomy on voice function, anxiety, and psychological resilience, and to examine the effectiveness of this intervention in adult patients undergoing thyroidectomy.

The primary questions to be answered are:

Do head and neck stretching exercises improve voice function (Voice Handicap Index) after thyroidectomy? Do head and neck stretching exercises reduce patients' anxiety levels and increase psychological resilience? As a comparison group, researchers will compare the effects of head and neck stretching exercises to a control group receiving only routine care to assess the effects of exercises on voice, anxiety, and psychological resilience.

Participants will be asked to participate in the following procedures:

Patients in the experimental group will undergo head and neck stretching exercises in the early post-thyroidectomy period.

Voice function, anxiety, and psychological resilience will be measured in both groups before surgery and at postoperative day 1, week 1, week 2, and month 1.

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Key information

Conditions

Effects of Post-Thyroidectomy Head and Neck Stretching Exercises on Voice, Anxiety, and Psychological Resilience Anxiety Disorders Mental Disorders

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Atatürk University Research Hospital, Erzurum, Türkiye

Erzurum, 25000, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

Patients aged between 18 and 65, with adequate cognitive functions, who could communicate in Turkish, and who volunteered to participate in the study were included in our study.

Exclusion criteria

Individuals who had previously undergone partial thyroidectomy, had cervical problems before thyroidectomy, had current or previous voice disorders, or had any illness that could affect decision-making ability (psychological disorder, dementia, etc.) were not included in the study.

Treatment and study plan

Structured patient education + neck stretching exercises

Behavioral

The intervention is a nurse-led, structured patient education program based on the, combined with a supervised head-neck stretching exercise program. Unlike routine postoperative care, this intervention includes: (1) preoperative individualized education using the Teach-Back method, (2) a printed educational booklet specifically developed for thyroidectomy patients, and (3) a standardized 30-day head-neck stretching exercise program initiated in the early postoperative period (starting on postoperative day 1). The exercise program is performed daily at home with visual and written guidance. In addition, patients receive regular follow-up and reinforcement during the postoperative period. This comprehensive and multimodal structure distinguishes the intervention from standard care and other single-component educational approaches.

Primary outcomes

State Anxiety Level

Time frame: Preoperative, postoperative 1st day, 1st week, 2nd week and 1st month.

State anxiety level will be measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ataturk University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2023
Primary completion: 2023
Study completion: 2024
First posted: Dec 11, 2025
Registry last updated: Dec 11, 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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Completed