Connective tissue massage or electrotherapy together with stabilization exercises for chronic neck pain

Comparative Effects of Connective Tissue Massage and Physical Modalities Added to Cervical and Scapulothoracic Stabilization Exercises on Pain, Function, and Endurance in Individuals With Chronic Neck Pain

This trial will test whether adding connective tissue massage or electrotherapy to cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercises helps adults with chronic non-specific neck pain reduce pain and improve function.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 27 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 65 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Fenerbahce University (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Ataşehir, Istanbul)
• Trial ID: NCT07150143 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial will enroll 51 adults aged 18–65 with chronic non-specific neck pain and randomly assign them to three groups. One group will perform stabilization exercises alone, a second will add connective tissue massage, and a third will add electrotherapy (infrared, continuous ultrasound, and TENS). Interventions are supervised twice weekly for 8 weeks with daily home exercises supported by illustrated brochures. Primary outcomes are pain, disability, and deep cervical flexor endurance, with secondary outcomes including quality of life, cervical range of motion, and scapular function.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults 18–65 with chronic non-specific posterior neck pain (between the occiput and T1), able to attend supervised sessions and perform daily home exercises, are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People with recent neck trauma, prior cervical surgery, signs of radiculopathy or myelopathy, inflammatory spine disease, tumors or infections, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, major neurological disorders, congenital spine anomalies, systemic diseases like uncontrolled diabetes, or concurrent shoulder pathologies are unlikely to benefit and are excluded.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, adding connective tissue massage or electrotherapy to stabilization exercises could reduce pain and disability and improve neck muscle endurance and quality of life compared with exercises alone.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research on stabilization exercises plus manual therapy or electrotherapy shows mixed but sometimes positive effects, while connective tissue massage as a specific adjunct has been less extensively studied.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Being between 18 and 65 years of age,
* Having non-specific chronic neck pain localized to the posterior cervical spine between the occipital region and the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra,
* Being able to cooperate with the assessments to be performed in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Neck pain resulting from trauma within the past 6 months;
* A history of surgery related to cervical problems;
* Clinical signs of cervical radiculopathy and/or myelopathy;
* Inflammatory arthritis involving the cervical spine;
* Tumors or infections of the cervical spine;
* Vertebrobasilar artery insufficiency;
* Neurological disorders (such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, or syringomyelia);
* Congenital anomalies affecting the spine; systemic diseases (such as diabetes mellitus);
* Shoulder pathologies (including tendinitis, bursitis, or capsulitis).

Where this trial is running

Ataşehir, Istanbul

• Fenerbahçe Üniversitesi — Ataşehir, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye) (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Burcu AKKURT, PhD

Conditions: Non-specific Neck Pain, non-specific neck pain, scapulothoracic stabilization exercises, connective tissue massage, electrotherapy