Using mobile games for neck pain rehabilitation

A Randomized Two-Arm Clinical Trial, Fixed-Assignment Study on Adherence to Therapeutic Exercise in Cervical Rehabilitation Using A Serious Game In Mobile Devices

NA · Universitat de les Illes Balears · NCT06794528

This study is testing if a mobile game app can help adults with neck pain stick to their rehabilitation exercises better than a regular home exercise program.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment60 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 70 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversitat de les Illes Balears (other)
Locations1 site (Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands)
Trial IDNCT06794528 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile application that incorporates serious games for cervical rehabilitation in adults with non-specific neck pain. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a control group that follows a traditional home exercise program or an intervention group that uses the mobile app to guide their exercises. Both groups will log their progress in a compliance journal to monitor adherence and outcomes. The goal is to determine if the app enhances treatment adherence compared to standard practices.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with non-specific neck pain who own a smartphone or tablet.

Not a fit: Patients with acute or severe neck conditions, recent surgeries, or significant neurological symptoms may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve adherence to rehabilitation exercises and enhance recovery for patients with neck pain.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in using mobile applications for rehabilitation, suggesting potential success for this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Persons of legal age with cervicalgia.
* Have a smart mobile device (smartphone or tablet) on which to download the App.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Acute musculoskeletal pathological processes or exacerbation (less than 15 days of evolution). Includes presentation of symptoms such as paraesthesia, radiating pain, loss of strength in the upper limb.
* Episodes of severe pain more than 15 days of evolution.
* Accident with cervical or dorsal injury within the last month.
* Refusing to sign the informed consent.
* Not having a device suitable for installation or lack of experience in the use of smart mobile devices.
* Baseline NDI score of less than 5.
* Presence of red flags:

  * Suspicion of fracture: advanced age, previous trauma, osteoporosis.
  * Suspicion of neurological involvement: loss of sensation in extremities, loss of strength or muscle mass.
  * Suspicion of infection: fever, night sweats.
  * Suspicion of cancer: Previous history of cancer, no improvement in one month of treatment, weight loss, headache, vomiting.
  * Suspicion of systemic disease: headache, fever, malaise, general headache, fever, malaise, unilateral skin rash (herpes).

Where this trial is running

Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands

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.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Neck Pain

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.