Telerehabilitation Exercise Program for Individuals With Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain

Istanbul Gelisim University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain

Treatments: Behavioral: Telerehabilitation Exercise Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07188701

IGU-FTR-DT-01 (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study examined whether a 6-week telerehabilitation exercise program could reduce pain and improve daily functioning in people with chronic non-specific neck pain. Participants were adults aged 18-65 who had neck pain for at least 3 months. The program included guided physiotherapy-based exercises delivered online using video calls. Outcomes measured included pain intensity, disability, mood, and sleep quality. The goal was to evaluate if telerehabilitation is an effective and safe method for managing chronic neck pain.

Full description

Chronic non-specific neck pain is a common condition that negatively affects quality of life and daily functioning. Conventional rehabilitation programs often require face-to-face sessions, which may be limited by access barriers. Telerehabilitation offers a practical alternative by providing physiotherapy interventions remotely through online platforms.

This study investigated the effects of a 6-week telerehabilitation-based exercise program on individuals with chronic non-specific neck pain. Participants were randomly assigned to groups and received structured exercise sessions guided by a physiotherapist via video calls. Primary outcome was pain intensity measured with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes included disability assessed by the Neck Disability Index (NDI), mood and psychological well-being assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-21) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), and sleep quality measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

The objective was to evaluate whether telerehabilitation exercises can reduce pain and disability, and improve psychological health and sleep quality, providing evidence for its effectiveness as a non-invasive and accessible management strategy for neck pain.

Enrollment: 50 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 55 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:Aged 18-55 years

History of neck pain lasting at least 3 months

Willingness to participate in the study

Having an active internet connection and access to a tablet or computer at home

Ability to read and write in Turkish

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Exclusion Criteria:

• Traumatic cervical injuries

Tumoral conditions

Cognitive impairments

Receiving physiotherapy for neck pain within the last 6 months

Presence of visual or hearing impairments

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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50 participants in 2 patient groups

Experimental: Telerehabilitation Exercise Program

Experimental group

Description:

Participants received a 6-week structured telerehabilitation exercise program delivered via Zoom under the supervision of a physiotherapist. The program was performed 4 days per week, approximately 20-30 minutes per session, focusing on posture correction, cervical stabilization, mobility, and pain management strategies

Treatment:

Behavioral: Telerehabilitation Exercise Program

Active Comparator: Home Exercise Program

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants received a 6-week home exercise program. Exercises were demonstrated once weekly via Zoom by a physiotherapist. Participants performed the program independently at home, 4 days per week, 20-30 minutes per session.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Telerehabilitation Exercise Program