Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 18 to 45

TENS vs Ultrasound with Exercise for Mechanical Neck Pain

Official title: Therapeutic Benefit of Two Modalities TENS and Ultrasound Along With Exercises in the Management of Mechanical Neck Pain; A Randomized Clinical Trial

Run by Dow University of Health Sciences · NCT07723586 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A 44-person randomized trial tests whether TENS plus exercise works better than ultrasound plus exercise for neck pain.

More Mechanical Neck Pain trials

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 45 Years
SexAll
Enrollment44 (estimated)
SponsorDow University of Health Sciences
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Karachi, Sindh)
StatusRecruiting
StartedAugust 15, 2026
Main results expectedSeptember 15, 2026
Study endsSeptember 15, 2026
Registry record updatedJuly 23, 2026
Trial IDNCT07723586 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are adults with subacute or chronic mechanical neck pain and a baseline pain score above 5 on the Visual Analog Scale.

Probably not a fit

Individuals with other musculoskeletal disorders, cervical radiculopathy, neurological disorders, trauma history, fibromyalgia, vertigo, or cervical spine malignancy may not benefit.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This randomized trial compares two non-drug treatments for mechanical neck pain, each combined with a standardized exercise program. Participants with subacute or chronic neck pain are randomly assigned to receive either TENS with exercise or ultrasound with exercise, over nine sessions in two weeks. Outcomes include pain intensity, functional disability, and neck range of motion, measured before and after treatment. The study is conducted at the Dow University of Health Sciences in Karachi and is led by Dow University of Health Sciences with no additional collaborators. The goal is to see which modality, when paired with exercise, provides greater relief and function.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the preferred modality could offer greater pain relief and better neck function when combined with exercise.

How similar studies have gone: Prior research has explored TENS and ultrasound separately for neck pain, but direct comparisons with identical exercise regimens are limited.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosed and referred patients with mechanical neck pain.
* Participants with subacute or chronic neck pain.
* Participants willing to participate in the study.
* Participants with a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score greater than 5 (moderate to severe pain).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Participants with other musculoskeletal disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, cervical spondylosis, spondylolisthesis, cervical radiculopathy, malignancy, or neurological disorders.
* Participants with a history of trauma or whiplash injury.
* Participants with chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia.
* Participants with vertigo or dizziness.

Where it's running

  • Dow University of Health Sciences
    Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.