Development of Standard Guidelines for Relaxation Exercises in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain and Determination of Their Effectiveness

Launched by BALIKESIR UNIVERSITY · Jun 28, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study is looking at whether doing relaxation exercises before a specific neck movement can help reduce tension in certain neck muscles for people who have had ongoing neck pain for at least three months. The researchers want to see if these relaxation exercises can lower the activity of two muscles that often get tight in neck pain: the sternocleidomastoid (a muscle on the side of your neck) and the upper trapezius (a muscle near your shoulder).

To join the study, participants need to have chronic neck pain that scores 4 or higher on a pain scale, and they must be able to understand Turkish. People with neck pain caused by serious conditions like tumors or recent injuries, or those who’ve had surgery in the neck or shoulder area, won’t be able to take part. If you join, you’ll be asked to do neck exercises called cranio-cervical flexion, either alone or after doing relaxation exercises first. The researchers will use a non-invasive test called surface EMG to measure how much your neck muscles are working during these exercises. This study hasn’t started recruiting yet, but it aims to find better ways to reduce neck muscle tension and help those living with chronic neck pain.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Knowledge of Turkish
• • Chronic (at least three months) neck pain
• • Neck pain level of 4 or higher on a numerical pain scale
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Neck pain caused by a tumor, trauma, or rheumatic disease
• • History of surgery involving the head, neck, shoulder, or thoracic region
• • Root compression
• • Regular use of painkillers due to another illness
• • Another illness severe enough to interfere with work