Manual therapy and movement exercises for chronic neck pain

Is the Combination of Manual Therapy and Movement Control Exercises More Effective Than Manual Therapy and Standard Exercises in a Population of Patients With Chronic Neck Pain to Reduce Neck Disability? A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Not applicable Interventional Hochschule Osnabruck · NCT06189612

This study is testing whether a mix of hands-on therapy and movement exercises can help people with chronic neck pain feel better.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment45 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 65 Years
SexAll
SponsorHochschule Osnabruck Academic / other
Locations1 site (Osnabrück, Niedersachsen)
Trial IDNCT06189612 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This trial investigates the effects of a combined treatment approach for chronic neck pain, which includes manual therapy and movement control exercises targeting the neck and temporomandibular regions. The study aims to address the high prevalence of neck pain and its correlation with temporomandibular disorders by employing a comprehensive physiotherapy regimen. Participants will be randomized to receive different combinations of clinical reasoning-based physiotherapy and specific movement control training. The goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions in improving patient outcomes.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18-65 diagnosed with idiopathic chronic neck pain lasting at least three months.

Not a fit: Patients with neurological symptoms, recent fractures or surgeries in the head or neck, or systemic inflammatory conditions may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly reduce chronic neck pain and improve quality of life for affected patients.

How similar studies have performed: While there have been studies on individual treatment modalities, this combined approach is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* aged between 18 - 65 years of age
* being diagnosed with idiopathic chronic neck pain (\>= 3 month)
* scoring minimum \>= 15 in the NDI
* linguistic (german) and cognitive ability to fully understand the questionnaires and exercise instructions.

Exclusion Criteria:

* presence of neurological symptoms of the upper limb
* presence of elapsed fractures or surgeries in the past half year in the head, jaw or cervical region
* medical interventions in these regions
* systemic inflammatory conditions requiring systemic-acting drugs
* Central Sensitization Index (CSI) score \> 40 points

Where this trial is running

Osnabrück, Niedersachsen

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Neck PainTemporomandibular DisorderExercisesMotor control
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.