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The Effect of Superficial EMG Biofeedback Training on Muscle Activation, Proprioception, Reaction Time and Upper Extremity Functions in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

THE EFFECT OF SUPERFICIAL EMG BIOFEEDBACK TRAINING ON MUSCLE ACTIVATION, PROPRIOCEPTION, REACTION TIME AND UPPER EXTREMITY FUNCTIONS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC NECK PAIN: A SINGLE-BLIND RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06896487
Enrollment
50
Registered
2025-03-26
Start date
2024-07-26
Completion date
2025-03-06
Last updated
2025-03-26

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Chronic Neck Pain

Brief summary

Musculoskeletal disorders are among the health problems that most distract individuals from work life in both developed and developing countries. According to the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study, when evaluated in terms of burden of disease, life expectancy with disability and rehabilitation needs, low back and neck pain are at the top of this category. According to the Health Research Report published by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) in 2019, musculoskeletal disorders in the neck region are more common in women and were determined as the musculoskeletal disorder with the highest increase by 12.9% between 2016 and 2019. It has been reported that in approximately half of individuals with neck pain, this pain recurs and becomes chronic. Factors such as sedentary lifestyle, history of low back pain, being female, anxiety disorders, sleep problems and smoking are thought to contribute to the chronicization of pain. Chronic neck pain is defined as pain in the neck region lasting longer than twelve weeks. Cervical muscle activations have been monitored with EMG studies in the patient population with neck pain from past to present and altered cervical muscle activations have been reported in individuals with neck pain. The main muscle groups in which muscle activation has been monitored with superficial EMG and changes have been found in individuals with neck pain are upper trapezius, sternocelidomastoid, cervical erector spinal muscles and thoracic erector spinal muscles. On the other hand, it is still debated whether these muscle activation changes are the cause or a normal consequence of chronic neck pain. In recent years, it has been reported in the literature that EMG Biofeedback studies have been included in patients with neck pain, but more studies are needed to determine its superiority to conventional applications. In the light of this information, in our study titled The Effect of Superficial EMG Biofeedback Training on Muscle Activation, Proprioception, Reaction Time and Upper Extremity Functions in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain; Randomized controlled study, both the effect of EMG Biofeedback muscle training application on the symptoms of patients with neck pain will be investigated and data that will be a reference for future studies in this field will be obtained. The study in patients with chronic neck pain had two aims. To investigate the effect of EMG Biofeedback relaxation training (upper trapezius muscle) combined with active EMG Biofeedback exercises + routine exercise program on muscle activation, pain, proprioception, reaction time and upper extremity function in patients with neck pain. To compare the effects of EMG Biofeedback training with standard physiotherapy program. Hypotheses of the study; H0: EMG Biofeedback relaxation training (upper trapezius muscle) combined with active EMG Biofeedback exercises + routine exercise program has no effect on muscle activation, pain, proprioception, reaction time and upper extremity function in patients with neck pain H1: EMG Biofeedback relaxation training (upper trapezius muscle) combined with active EMG Biofeedback exercises + routine exercise program has an effect on muscle activation, pain, proprioception, reaction time and upper extremity function in patients with neck pain.

Interventions

OTHERSurface EMG Biofeedback Muscle and Relaxation Training

We think that 6 weeks of superficial EMG Biofeedback muscle training and relaxation training given to the participants in this study will improve the patient's upper trapezius activation and voluntary contraction performance.

OTHERConventional Rehabilitation

The conventional rehabilitation group of this study received ultrasound, TENS and hot pack application 3 days a week for 6 weeks.

Sponsors

Dokuz Eylul University
CollaboratorOTHER
Pervin Yeşiloğlu
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Presentation to the clinic with neck pain for at least 3 months due to at least one of the following causes: facet joint dysfunction, cervical disc lesions, myofascial pain syndrome, cervical spondylosis, mechanical neck pain, * To be between the ages of 18-65, * To cooperate with the evaluation parameters to be applied in the study, * Volunteering to participate in the study, * Not having received physical therapy for neck pain before,

Exclusion criteria

* Over 65 years of age, * Problems in perceiving verbal commands, * Having benefited from physiotherapy and/or another treatment method for neck pain within the last 1 year, * Undergoing any operation related to pathologies of the neck region, * To have undergone upper extremity surgery, * Presence of neurological symptoms, * Presence of comorbidities affecting upper extremity and hand functions (carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, impingement syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, lateral and medial epicondylitis, hand osteoarthritis), * Pregnancy.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Upper Extremity Reaction TimeWeek of enrollment and end of the treatment at 6th weeks and 12 th weeks
Cervical ProprioceptionWeek of enrollment and end of the treatment at 6th weeks and 12 th weeks

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Neck Disability IndexWeek of enrollment and end of the treatment at 6th weeks and 12 th weeks
Pain AssessmentWeek of enrollment and end of the treatment at 6th weeks and 12 th weeksVisual analog scale was used to assess pain.
DASH Upper extremity Function ScaleWeek of enrollment and end of the treatment at 6th weeks and 12 th weeks
Range of Motion AssessmentWeek of enrollment and end of the treatment at 6th weeks and 12 th weeks
Upper Trapezius EMG ActivationWeek of enrollment and end of the treatment at 6th weeks and 12 th weeks
SF-36Week of enrollment and end of the treatment at 6th weeks and 12 th weeks
Upper Trapezius MVC on SEMGWeek of enrollment and end of the treatment at 6th weeks and 12 th weeks
Hand Grip StrenghtWeek of enrollment and end of the treatment at 6th weeks and 12 th weeks
Neck Pain and Disability IndexWeek of enrollment and end of the treatment at 6th weeks and 12 th weeks

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026