Investigation of the Effectiveness of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Techniques in Text Neck Syndrome

Neck Muscle Issue Clinical Trial

Official title:

Investigation of the Effectiveness of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Techniques in Text Neck Syndrome

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT06306807
• Other study ID #: AtlasUmkaya02
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: December 31, 2023
• Est. completion date: March 15, 2024

Study information

• Verified date: March 2024
• Source: Atlas University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Smartphones and tablets are increasingly widespread mobile technological devices used for many purposes such as communication, transportation, entertainment, education and security. Increasing use of mobile technology leads to various symptoms such as insomnia, difficulty concentrating and anxiety, especially musculoskeletal problems. "Text neck" is a musculoskeletal problem seen in individuals who use smartphones and tablets for a long time due to increased head and neck flexion posture. It causes neck, back, shoulder, and head pain, insomnia, tingling and numbness in the hands. Implementation of exercise programs for both preventive and therapeutic purposes is one of the main goals in this picture dominated by posture and pain problems. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) treatment technique; In the 1940s by H. Kabat and M. Knott, PNF was expressed as a means of facilitating neuromuscular responses by stimulation of proprioceptors. It is stated that it increases joint stabilization, strength, normal range of motion, endurance and circulation and is effective in improving coordination. Although PNF techniques have been used for different spinal problems, there is no study investigating PNF techniques in text neck syndrome. The study was aimed to compare the effect of a method including muscle relaxation in the anterior elevation direction and repetition techniques in the posterior depression direction from PNF neck patterns on pain intensity, neck normal range of motion, neck muscle endurance, posture and functionality in individuals with text neck syndrome with another method including ergonomic adjustments and simple cervical exercises recommended in the literature to be included in standard treatment.

Description:

Smartphones and tablets are increasingly widespread mobile technological devices used for many purposes such as communication, transportation, entertainment, education and security. Increasing use of mobile technology leads to various symptoms such as insomnia, difficulty concentrating and anxiety, especially musculoskeletal problems. "Text neck" is a musculoskeletal problem seen in individuals who use smartphones and tablets for a long time due to increased head and neck flexion posture. It causes neck, back, shoulder, and head pain, insomnia, tingling and numbness in the hands. Implementation of exercise programs for both preventive and therapeutic purposes is one of the main goals in this picture dominated by posture and pain problems. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) treatment technique; In the 1940s by H. Kabat and M. Knott, PNF was expressed as a means of facilitating neuromuscular responses by stimulation of proprioceptors. It is stated that it increases joint stabilization, strength, normal range of motion, endurance and circulation and is effective in improving coordination. Although PNF techniques have been used for different spinal problems, there is no study investigating PNF techniques in text neck syndrome. The study was aimed to compare the effect of a method including muscle relaxation in the anterior elevation direction and repetition techniques in the posterior depression direction from PNF neck patterns on pain intensity, neck normal range of motion, neck muscle endurance, posture and functionality in individuals with text neck syndrome with another method including ergonomic adjustments and simple cervical exercises recommended in the literature to be included in standard treatment. Our study is planned as a randomized controlled, prospective, single-blind case-control study. Demographic and clinical information of all participants to be included in the study will be recorded with the "Demographic and Clinical Information Form". Neck pain will be assessed by visual analog scale (VAS), cervical joint normal range of motion will be assessed by cervical flexion, cervical extension, cervical lateral flexion and cervical rotation normal range of motion measurements, neck muscle endurance will be assessed by neck flexor and extensor muscle endurance tests, posture will be assessed by New York Posture Evaluation Scale and functionality will be assessed by Neck Disability Index.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 38
• Est. completion date: March 15, 2024
• Est. primary completion date: March 14, 2024
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 40 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• at least 1 year of using a smartphone
• using smartphones>4 hours per day, having recurrent neck pain which is increased by sustained posture and feeling of stiffness on turning the head and neck after long usages
• be able to read written and understand spoken language and willing to participate were included.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects with spinal infections or inflammatory disorders
• a history of neck surgery, trauma, torticollis, scoliosis, malignancies, pregnancy, diagnosed disc prolapse, stenosis, herniation, spondylolisthesis, osteoporosis
• currently continuing or participating in a regular exercise program
• unable to perform tests or exercises because of diagnosed comorbidities or presently undergoing medication or physical therapy treatments

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Neck Muscle Issue
• Syndrome

Intervention

Other:
• Exercise program including active cervical range of motion, strengthening, and posture correction exercises and ergonomic modifications
Active cervical range of motion exercise program consists of the general range of movement for flexors, extensors, both sides flexors, and rotator neck muscles. Participants were instructed to perform exercises in a sitting position, but they were allowed to perform exercises in supine and prone lying if they had problems with sitting position. Strengthening exercises were planned for weak, lengthened, inhibited muscles e.g. Longus colli, and longus capitis. Chin tucks, chin tucks against gravity, and chin nod exercises were selected. Ergonomic modifications while using a smartphone were taught such as taking breaks and changing positions frequently while using a smartphone, avoiding cradling the phone between your ear and shoulder, choosing a smartphone that fits your hands properly, holding the smartphone near chest level rather than waist level, and using features including predictive text or auto-complete tools
• PNF exercise program
The contract-relax technique for the neck extension pattern and the replication technique for the scapular posterior elevation pattern were used.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Turkey	Istanbul Atlas University	Istanbul

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Atlas University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Turkey, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Pain intensity	The neck pain score was measured using the visual analog scale. The VAS is a subjective scoring method for recording the degree of present pain from 0 (no pain) to 10 (the most severe pain ever experienced) on a 10-cm scale. The minimum clinical important difference (MCID) for VAS is 1.4 cm (on a 10 cm scale)	6 weeks
Primary	Cervical range of motion	Active cervical range of motion was measured in all directions with a plastic universal goniometer. Participants were instructed to sit upright while securing their thoracic area to a chair to assess their cervical range of motion. They were then directed to perform a series of standard movements: flexion, extension, left-right lateral flexion, and left-right rotation. Three consecutive measurements were obtained and the average value was recorded as degree. Before measurements, all participants were encouraged to perform each neck movement to the end range to familiarize themselves with the testing method and to reduce the creep.	6 weeks
Primary	Neck flexor-extensor muscle endurance test	The neck flexor muscle endurance test was performed in the supine and crook lying position. The participant lifted the head and neck until the head was approximately 2.5 cm off the plinth. The "hold your head up" command was given. The test was stopped if the participant's head touched the investigator's hand for over one second. Holding time was recorded in seconds with a stopwatch. The neck extensor muscle endurance test was performed in the prone position. The participant was asked to retract the chin and hold the head steady horizontally. The test was stopped if the subject could not maintain the head in a horizontal position. The endurance time was measured in seconds by stopwatch	6 weeks
Primary	Posture	The evaluation of posture involved using the New York Posture Rating Chart (NYPR), a cost-effective, easily applicable method commonly employed for subjective postural assessment in clinical settings. This chart allows for the assessment of 13 body areas, based on the idea that posture reflects the body's alignment and its various segments.	6 weeks
Primary	Disability	The assessment of disability relied on the Neck Disability Index (NDI), comprising a self-reported scale of 10 items. Each item addresses various complaints related to neck pain, primarily focusing on limitations in activities of daily living. Each item is represented by six different statements, graded on a scale from 0 to 5, where 0 denotes no disability and 5 signifies the most severe disability.	6 weeks