The Effect of Low-load Endurance Training of Upper Trapezius on Pain, Pressure Pain and Muscle Stiffness in Chronic Neck-shoulder Pain Compared to Stretching Exercise

Launched by THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY · Oct 8, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how effective low-load endurance exercises are for relieving pain and stiffness in the neck and shoulders compared to traditional stretching exercises. The focus is on patients who have been experiencing ongoing pain in one side of their neck and shoulder for more than three months. Over a five-week period, participants will either perform endurance exercises or stretching exercises targeting the upper trapezius muscle on the affected side. The goal is to see which type of exercise leads to better improvements in pain levels, muscle stiffness, and the ability to perform daily activities.

To participate in this study, you must be between 20 and 60 years old, have a job that involves using a computer for at least 20 hours a week, and have a moderate level of neck and shoulder pain. The study will assess your condition before and after the exercise program, using questionnaires and tests to measure how your daily life and functionality are affected by the pain. This research aims to help healthcare providers better understand how to treat chronic neck-shoulder pain, guiding them in recommending specific exercises that can improve your quality of life.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Adults who
• • (1) are between 20 and 60 years of age;
• • (2) have worked with Display Screen Equipment (DSE) for a minimum of 20 hours per week;
• • (3) are presenting persistent, non-specific pain over unilateral neck-shoulder region for more than 3 months, with at least 30 days of pain during the last year;
• • (4) have average pain rating of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) larger than 3.4 centimeter out of 10 (moderate level of pain) during the week before data collection;
• • (5) possess the range of motion of cervical rotation to the symptomatic side more than that of cervical rotation to the asymptomatic side with at least 10° difference as measured by placing a goniometric measurement sensor on the external occipital tuberosity (the lower edge of the upper sensor) and the spinous process of C7 vertebrae (the upper edge of the lower sensor), which may indicate "pseudo-tightness" of upper trapezius over the symptomatic side.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • (1) have regular strength training of the neck and upper limbs during the year before the study;
• • (2) have neck-shoulder pain with specific diagnosis or known cause, for instance cervical radiculopathy, prolapse of intervertebral disc or disc herniation, or with neurological deficits and symptoms;
• • (3) have previous cervical spine or upper limb surgery;
• • (4) have comorbidity which includes but is not limited to neurological disease such as stroke, Parkinson's disease or spinal cord injury, mental illness, heart disease, diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome or fibromyalgia; or
• • (5) contraindicated for electrical stimulation which will be involved during assessment, such as impaired skin sensation and/or conditions, pregnancy, local malignancy or recently radiated tissue, electronic implant or metal implant, actively bleeding tissue.