Comparison of Different Rehabilitation Approaches in Chronic Neck Pain

Comparison of Different Rehabilitation Approaches in Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT07169084

Enrollment

Registered

2025-09-11

Start date

2025-09-01

Completion date

2025-12-15

Last updated

2026-02-09

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

Conditions

Neck Pain Musculoskeletal

Keywords

Rehabilitation Approaches, Manual Therapy, Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, Physical Therapy, Musculoskeletal Disorders

Brief summary

Chronic neck pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder that negatively affects daily life and quality of life. Exercise and manual therapy are widely used treatment strategies, but there is limited evidence comparing different rehabilitation approaches. This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effects of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization and manual therapy on pain, functional status, cervical muscle endurance, and range of motion in individuals with chronic neck pain. Twenty-four participants will be randomly assigned to two groups and receive treatment three times per week for four weeks. Assessments will include the Visual Analog Scale, Neck Disability Index, cervical muscle endurance tests, and goniometric range of motion. The results are expected to support evidence-based strategies for managing chronic neck pain.

Interventions

OTHERManual Therapy

Manual mobilization techniques applied to the cervical and upper thoracic regions, 3 sessions/week for 4 weeks.

OTHERInstrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)

Mobilization applied with instruments to cervical and upper thoracic muscles, 3 sessions/week for 4 weeks.

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 40 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* Age between 18-40 years * Diagnosis of chronic neck pain (≥12 weeks duration) * Pain intensity ≥ 3 cm on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) * Voluntary participation and signed informed consent

Exclusion criteria

* Previous cervical spine surgery * History of acute trauma, fracture, or dislocation in the cervical region * Presence of neurological deficit, inflammatory disease, or systemic rheumatic condition * Malignancy, severe cardiovascular or neurological disorder * Participation in a similar treatment program within the past 6 months * Current use of corticosteroids

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Visual Analog Scale (VAS), 0-10 cm (0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain imaginable)	Change from baseline to 4 weeks	The VAS will be used to assess the intensity of neck pain. A higher score indicates greater pain intensity.

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 10, 2026