Clinical Research Directory

Neck Musculoskeletal Symptoms Among Turkish Endodontists

This observational study aims to evaluate the prevalence, severity, and characteristics of neck musculoskeletal symptoms among Turkish endodontists. Endodontists are exposed to prolonged static postures and repetitive movements during clinical procedures, which may increase the risk of neck-related disorders. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires regarding demographic characteristics, occupational factors, ergonomic conditions, and neck pain. In addition, physical assessments including cervical range of motion, muscle strength, endurance, posture, and proprioception will be performed using validated measurement tools. The study also aims to identify factors associated with neck pain, such as working conditions, posture, and clinical experience. The findings may help improve preventive strategies, ergonomic recommendations, and rehabilitation approaches for dental professionals.

MANUAL THERAPY ON PAIN, DISABILITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE

The aim of this study is to investigate whether conventional physical therapy combined with manual therapy reduces pain and maintains life support in individuals with chronic mechanical neck pain, compared to conventional physical therapy alone. The study plans to evaluate the combined benefits of both treatment methods and manual therapy. Pain, quality of life, range of motion, and neck injuries will be assessed in the participants. The treatment protocol will be administered twice a week, for a total of 10 sessions over a 5-week period.

Effect of Body Mind Exercises and Specific Neck Exercises in Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain

To investigate the effect of body mind exercise and specific neck exercises in chronic mechanical neck pain on neck pain severity, functional disability, neck flexion range of motion, isometric neck muscle strength and quality of life.

The Effectiveness of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) Exercises Compared to Localized Exercises and Standard Care on Pain Intensity, Neck Dysfunction, and Upper Cervical Range of Motion in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

Many people experience long-lasting neck pain, which can affect daily life, work, and overall well-being. This study aims to find out which type of exercise program is most effective in reducing neck pain, improving neck movement, and making daily activities easier. What Is Being Studied?: The study compares three different types of treatment: DNS Exercises (Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization): Whole-body exercises focusing on posture, breathing, and core stability. Localized Neck Exercises: Targeted exercises for the neck and shoulder muscles. Standard Care: Usual physiotherapy treatment commonly provided in clinical practice. Study Procedures: Participants are randomly assigned to one of the three groups. Each participant receives individual exercise instruction from a physiotherapist. Participants are also given simple home exercises to perform on their own. The study lasts for about 12 weeks. What Will Be Measured?: At the beginning, during, and at the end of the study, the following will be assessed: Neck pain intensity (pain scale) Neck range of motion How much the pain affects daily life and activities Possible Benefits: Participants may experience: Less neck pain Improved neck mobility Better overall body awareness Even if not every participant notices improvement, taking part will help researchers improve future treatment options for chronic neck pain. Risks: No major risks are expected. All exercises are supervised by qualified physiotherapists and adjusted to each participant's abilities. Participation can be stopped at any time if discomfort or pain occurs. Voluntary Participation and Data Privacy: Participation is completely voluntary. All personal data will be kept confidential and analyzed anonymously for research purposes only. Participants may withdraw from the study at any time without any disadvantages.

Musical Mindfulness for Pain in the ED Waiting Room

Studies have shown that 60-70% of patients in the Emergency Department (ED) experience pain. With pain being such a broad issue in the ED, the ED is expected to deliver safe and effective treatment of pain. However, with the current ongoing opioid epidemic, it is important to consider other methods, both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic, of pain reduction. Jazz music specifically has been demonstrated to have therapeutic effects on pain that can be used to lower the quantity of opioids administered to patients. Non-pharmacological interventions in the emergency department for pain typically consist of splinting an injury, applying heat or cold, or various distractions following initial and sequential pain assessment. Pharmacological interventions for pain in the Emergency Department involve the administration of acetaminophen, muscle relaxers, topical anesthetics, opioids, to name a few. In the emergency department (ED), providers are increasingly hesitant to prescribe opioids over the past decade due to the current opioid epidemic, in which there is an increasing proportion of people that develop an addiction to opioids, including those that are prescribed to them for pain management.. While emergency medicine providers' decrease in opioid prescriptions pertains to their implementation of opioid-prescribing policies, little evidence has been found demonstrating a direct link in these policies to decreases in substance misuse. Consequently, providers find themselves needing to become ingenious in their approach to pain in patients through the integration of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic mediums of analgesia. A recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston sought to identify the qualitative responses from patients in the ED following the arbitrary distribution of either supervised or unsupervised music therapy over a time period of 4 hours. The initial results found that, generally speaking, music therapy may lower reported pain and anxiety scores. Furthermore, stronger results were identified in case subjects with higher initial reports of pain via a pain catastrophizing scale, implying that a higher baseline of pain results in more relief from music therapy. One shortcoming in the article is the lack of analysis with reported results and the biopsychosocial model of pain. Heavy emphasis is placed on the psychological and social components of pain in the Brigham and Women's article through the implementation of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale and Brief Pain Inventory scoring done during the RCT, but no focus on linked biological changes in the subjects through the music therapy intervention. The purpose of this study is to (i.) assess the effect of a video training about musical pain management followed by a 15-minute music listening intervention on self-reported pain scores in ED patients with neck and back pain. The investigators also aim to (ii.) evaluate patient satisfaction and emotional response following the intervention. Opioid medications are commonly used to reduce substantial pain, and music therapy has been found to reduce associated pain and anxiety in patients, then the use of music therapy could be an aid in medicine to reduce opioid intake. The investigators hypothesize that the usage of a training on musical pain management combined with a specified jazz musical intervention will produce a significantly lower measured pain score in comparison to a video on mindful pain management followed by the patient's choice of activities.

How Dry Needling at the Neck Affects Shoulder Movement, Strength, Pain, and Shoulder Circulation

Segmental facilitation, originally proposed by Korr in the 1950s, suggests that certain spinal segments can become hyperexcitable, leading to chronic pain development. In a facilitated segment, neurons governing sensory, motor, and autonomic functions are in a state of heightened sensitivity, making them responsive to normally weak stimuli. Clinical signs include non-fatigable muscle weakness, brisk reflexes, muscle hypertonicity, tenderness upon palpation, and trophic changes like an orange-peel appearance in the affected segment's innervated areas. It's hypothesized that increased synaptic excitability in facilitated segments could cause vasoconstriction and reduced blood flow, contributing to trophic changes and muscle hypertonicity. Manual therapies like dry needling have been shown to alleviate muscle inhibition in the extremities. Previous studies have demonstrated that mobilization of the C5-6 joint can reduce non-fatigable weakness in shoulder external rotators primarily innervated by these segments. However, the neurophysiological effects of dry needling (DN) on muscle inhibition due to a facilitated segment remain unclear. While DN has been observed to increase local tissue blood flow, its potential to mitigate the clinical signs of segmental facilitation is uncertain. While DN has been observed to increase local tissue blood flow, its potential to mitigate the clinical signs of segmental facilitation is uncertain. Therefore, this project aims to investigate whether DN applied at a facilitated segment could normalize blood flow to its associated muscles. Specifically, this study will explore whether DN at the C5-6 level improves blood flow in the infraspinatus muscle, enhances shoulder range of motion, and influences muscle strength over time. The secondary purpose is to determine whether C5-6 DN will reduce the number of tender points in the muscles supplied by C5-6.

Mangement of Cervicogenic Headache by Maual Therapy

This study aims to investigate immediate and short-term effect of combining suboccipital myofascial release with Maitland mobilization techniques on headache intensity, duration, and frequency, CFRT, upper cervical ROM, general neck mobility, and PPT of upper trapezius and suboccipital muscles.

Effects of Neck Stabilizers Retraining on Chronic Neck Pain

The present study aims to evaluate the effects of deep neck stabilizers retraining with pressure biofeedback on cervical range of motion, pain, and temporomandibular dysfunction in patients with chronic neck pain. Participants will receive biofeedback-assisted deep neck flexor retraining in one group, while the other group will perform conventional exercises. The neurological connection between the TMJ and neck means that therapies such as neck flexion exercises and biofeedback can alleviate neck pain and jaw issues.

Sleep Hygiene Plus Physiotherapy for Sleep and Disability in Chronic Neck Pain

This study investigates the effectiveness of a combined intervention that integrates sleep hygiene education with physiotherapy exercises in patients suffering from chronic neck pain. Chronic neck pain is often associated with both musculoskeletal dysfunction and secondary sleep disturbances, which in turn may exacerbate pain perception, fatigue, and disability. Traditional physiotherapy exercise programs focus primarily on improving cervical mobility, muscle strength, and postural control, but they do not typically address sleep-related problems that can hinder recovery. The intervention in this study consists of two main components: Physiotherapy Exercise Program - A structured regimen targeting cervical spine mobility, deep cervical flexor strengthening, scapular stabilization, and postural correction. These exercises aim to reduce pain, restore function, and improve overall physical performance. Sleep Hygiene Education - A structured educational module covering principles of healthy sleep habits, including maintaining consistent sleep-wake schedules, creating an optimal sleep environment, limiting stimulants before bedtime, and adopting relaxation strategies to promote better sleep initiation and maintenance. By combining these approaches, the intervention addresses not only the physical impairments associated with chronic neck pain but also the psychosocial and behavioral factors contributing to poor sleep quality. Outcome Measures: Primary Outcomes: Sleep quality, assessed using validated tools such as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Secondary Outcomes: Disability and functional limitations, measured by the Neck Disability Index (NDI), along with pain intensity assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Fatigue will be assessed by fatigue inventory index Study Hypothesis: The combined intervention of sleep hygiene education and physiotherapy exercise will lead to greater improvements in sleep quality and reductions in disability and fatigue compared to physiotherapy exercise alone. Clinical Significance: If effective, this integrative approach may provide a cost-effective, non-pharmacological management strategy for patients with chronic neck pain, targeting both physical and behavioral contributors to their condition.

Neck and Low Back Pain in Medical Students at The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica

The purpose of this study is to identify the prevalence of neck and low back pain in medical students enrolled at the University of the West Indies, Mona; to assess their knowledge, attitude and practice of good spine health and to determine the outcome of a standardised spine exercise program on medical students experiencing neck and low back pain, using a prospective randomised control design.

Validating a Clinical Prediction Rule to Guide Manual Therapy and Exercise for Neck Pain Relief in 140 Participants With Neck Pain

Neck pain is a common issue that can lead to long-term disability and lost work time for many individuals. Despite numerous studies, finding effective treatment strategies has been challenging. One possible reason for this is that treatments may not have been tested on the specific groups of people who would benefit most. A method was developed to identify people with neck pain who are likely to see significant improvements from a manipulation technique used by physical therapists, called cervical spine thrust joint manipulation. The investigators believe that patients identified as likely responders to cervical spine manipulation will show greater improvements in disability. The investigators aim to test whether this method works with different patients and therapists across the country through a multicenter randomized clinical trial. In this study, 140 patients with primary complaints of neck pain will be enrolled from 20 clinical sites. Designed with stringent criteria for inclusion, this study is a testament to our commitment to participant safety and the effectiveness of the treatment. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) one group will receive 2 sessions of cervical spine manipulation followed by 3 sessions of exercise, and (2) the other group will receive 2 sessions of gentle hands-on treatment followed by 3 sessions of exercise. The primary goal is to measure changes in disability 4 weeks after starting treatment, with follow-ups after one week, 4 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months to assess both immediate and long-term effects. By providing crucial data on the reliability of our method in identifying patients who will benefit most from cervical spine manipulation, this study has the potential to significantly enhance decision-making leading to rapid improvement. Results from this study will provide clearer guidelines on the optimal use of cervical spine manipulation, potentially revolutionizing the way patients recover from neck pain.

Effect of Kinesio Tape on Neck Pain in Lactating Women

This study will be conducted to investigate the effect of kinesio tape on neck pain in lactating women.

The Effects Of Oculomotor Exercises And Hands-On Protocol In Non-Specific Neck Pain

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of adding oculomotor techniques and hands-on treatments to routine exercise protocols for individuals with non-specific chronic neck pain (NSCNP).