Scapular Repositioning for Neck Pain and Scapular Dysfunction

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF PHAYAO · Jul 16, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying whether adjusting the position of the shoulder blade (scapula) can help reduce neck pain and improve shoulder and neck movement in people who have ongoing neck pain and problems with how their shoulder blade moves. The study wants to find out if these shoulder blade adjustments can ease pain, increase how far the neck can move, and improve the body’s sense of joint position and pain tolerance. It also compares two different ways of repositioning the shoulder blade to see which works better.

People who have had neck pain for at least three months, with a certain level of pain and difficulty using their neck, and who show changes in the position of their shoulder blade on the side of their neck pain may be eligible. Participants will be randomly placed into one of three groups: one where they actively hold their shoulder blade in a new position, one where the examiner moves and holds their shoulder blade for them, or a control group where gentle shoulder movements that don’t change shoulder blade position are done. Everyone will have their neck pain and movement measured before and after the treatment, including 30 minutes later. This study is currently recruiting adults of all genders who meet the criteria, and it helps to better understand simple ways to manage neck pain related to shoulder blade movement.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Chronic idiopathic neck pain for ≥3 months
• • An average pain intensity over the past week ≥3 mm on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
• • A current score of at least 10/100 on the Neck Disability Index-Thai version
• • Having altered scapular alignment ipsilateral to the more painful side of neck pain
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • History of neck injury or surgery
• • History of shoulder girdle pain, fracture, surgery or dislocation
• • History of neurological conditions (e.g. stroke, Parkinson's disease, brachial plexus injury)
• • History of marked spinal abnormalities (e.g. kyphosis, scoliosis) and other musculoskeletal conditions that could affect the scapular movement (e.g. myofascial pain syndrome, fibromyalgia, inflammatory joint disease, and/or autoimmune diseases)
• • Have participated in any specific training of the neck or shoulder girdle muscles in the last 6 months