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NCT Number: NCT07395011

The Effectiveness of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) Exercises Compared to Localized Exercises and Standard Care on Pain Intensity, Neck Dysfunction, and Upper Cervical Range of Motion in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

Many people experience long-lasting neck pain, which can affect daily life, work, and overall well-being. This study aims to find out which type of exercise program is most effective in reducing neck pain, improving neck movement, and making daily activities easier.

What Is Being Studied?:

The study compares three different types of treatment:

DNS Exercises (Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization):

Whole-body exercises focusing on posture, breathing, and core stability.

Localized Neck Exercises:

Targeted exercises for the neck and shoulder muscles.

Standard Care:

Usual physiotherapy treatment commonly provided in clinical practice.

Study Procedures:

Participants are randomly assigned to one of the three groups. Each participant receives individual exercise instruction from a physiotherapist.

Participants are also given simple home exercises to perform on their own. The study lasts for about 12 weeks.

What Will Be Measured?:

At the beginning, during, and at the end of the study, the following will be assessed:

Neck pain intensity (pain scale) Neck range of motion How much the pain affects daily life and activities

Possible Benefits:

Participants may experience:

Less neck pain Improved neck mobility Better overall body awareness Even if not every participant notices improvement, taking part will help researchers improve future treatment options for chronic neck pain.

Risks:

No major risks are expected. All exercises are supervised by qualified physiotherapists and adjusted to each participant's abilities.

Participation can be stopped at any time if discomfort or pain occurs.

Voluntary Participation and Data Privacy:

Participation is completely voluntary. All personal data will be kept confidential and analyzed anonymously for research purposes only.

Participants may withdraw from the study at any time without any disadvantages.

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Key information

Conditions

Neck Pain Chronic Neck Pain Neck Disability Neck Disease Neck Pain Musculoskeletal Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–50 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

  • between 18 and 50 years of age. This ensures a homogeneous population that in-cludes both young adults and middle-aged individuals.
  • have suffered from neck pain continuously for at least 12 weeks, as described by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)
  • have current neck pain greater than 40 on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) (on a scale of 0 to 100).
  • have an NDI score of over 10 points.

Exclusion criteria

-

  • Cancer
  • Patients with existing or previous fractures in the cervical spine
  • Patients who have undergone surgery on the cervical spine
  • Patients who, in addition to neck pain, also have or have had dizziness or balance disorders
  • People with osteoporosis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • People with diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis
  • People with red flags identified during a thorough physical examination
  • Patients with neurological deficits identified during a thorough physical examination
  • Participants who have undergone physiotherapy within the last 3 months.

Treatment and study plan

Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) Exercises

Other

Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) is a physiotherapy approach based on developmental kinesiology. It uses specific postural and breathing exercises to restore spinal stability, improve motor control, and enhance cervical function under physiotherapist supervision.

Local Exercises

Other

Localized neck exercises target deep and superficial cervical muscles through specific strengthening, motor control, and stabilization drills. The program includes chin tucks, resisted movements, and scapular stabilization, supervised by a physiotherapist to improve pain, function, and coordination.

Usual Care

Other

Usual care includes standard physiotherapy for chronic neck pain: patient education, manual therapy, heat application, and general stretching or mobility exercises. Treatment follows typical clinical practice and is adjusted to individual needs.

Primary outcomes

  1. Numeric Ratic Scale

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Neck Disability Index

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

  2. Flexio Rotation Test

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

  3. Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Hochschule Osnabruck

Other

Registry information

Acronym: DYNEX

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Feb 9, 2026
Registry last updated
Feb 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.

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