MedPath

Effects of Cervical Stabilization Exercise in Violinists With Chronic Neck Pain

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Neck Pain
Interventions
Other: Cervical stabilization exercise
Registration Number
NCT04051593
Lead Sponsor
National Cheng Kung University
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of a 6-week cervical stabilization exercise program in university violin players with chronic nonspecific neck pain.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
24
Inclusion Criteria
  • duration of playing the instrument longer than 5 years
  • practicing the violin more than 5 hours/week
  • constant neck pain for more than 3 months or at least 2 pain episodes in the last 3 months
Exclusion Criteria
  • previous surgery in the neck and shoulder regions
  • current participation in a structured exercises program
  • current treatment for neck and shoulder pain
  • red flags suggesting of cancer, infection, vascular insufficiency, and etc. during history taking
  • neurological symptoms of the upper extremities during screening tests (e.g. Spurling test and upper limb tension tests)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
TreatmentCervical stabilization exerciseExercise
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in self-reported neck pain: Numeric Rating ScalePre-test 1 (week 0), Pre-test 2 (week 4) and Post-test (week 10)

Measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (min 0-max 10, better outcome 0 worst outcome 10)

Changes in neck disabilityPre-test 1 (week 0), Pre-test 2 (week 4) and Post-test (week 10)

Measured by the Neck Disability Index (10-item questionnaire, each item scored from 0 to 5, result expressed as percentage, better outcome 0 worst outcome 100%)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in upper body posturePre-test 1 (week 0), Pre-test 2 (week 4) and Post-test (week 10)

Evaluated by the photographic method

Changes in deep neck flexors functionPre-test 1 (week 0), Pre-test 2 (week 4) and Post-test (week 10)

Measured by the craniocervical flexion test with a pressure biofeedback unit (higher pressure represents better outcome)

Changes in cervical muscle endurancePre-test 1 (week 0), Pre-test 2 (week 4) and Post-test (week 10)

Measured using a stopwatch for the successful time holding the head in cervical flexion and extension positions (longer time represent better outcome)

Changes in cervical joint position sensePre-test 1 (week 0), Pre-test 2 (week 4) and Post-test (week 10)

Measured by the cervcal joint reposition error with a laser pointer (short distance represent better outcome)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

National Cheng Kung University

🇨🇳

Tainan City, Taiwan

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath