Telerehabilitation, Face-to-Face Exercises, and a Mixed Model in Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain (TR Neck pain)

Cairo University (CU)

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Chronic Non-specific Neck Pain

Treatments: Other: In-Person Supervised Neck Exercises (Face-to-Face); Other: Real-Time Video-Guided Neck Exercises (Tele-Rehabilitation); Other: Hybrid Tele-Rehabilitation and In-Person Exercises (Mixed Model)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07302958

TR,Face to Face, mix model NP

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effectiveness of different physical therapy delivery models in treating chronic non-specific neck pain in adults aged 20-40 years with a history of neck pain for three months or longer.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Which approach (tele-rehabilitation, face-to-face exercises, or a mixed model) is most effective at reducing neck pain intensity and functional disability?
• Are there significant differences between the three models in improving cervical range of motion, kinesiophobia (fear of movement), patient satisfaction, and adherence to the exercise program?

Researchers will compare three groups to see if the delivery model affects outcomes:

1. A tele-rehabilitation group receiving real-time, video-guided exercise sessions.
2. A face-to-face group receiving traditional, in-person supervised exercise sessions.
3. A mixed-model group receiving a combination of both tele-rehabilitation and face-to-face sessions.

Participants will:

• Be randomly assigned to one of the three groups.
• Engage in a structured exercise program for 45-60 minutes per session, three times a week for six weeks.
• Follow a phased exercise protocol that begins with mobility and pain reduction, progresses to strengthening, and finishes with endurance and functional training.
• Complete assessments for pain, disability, range of motion, and other outcomes at the beginning and end of the 6-week intervention, with a final follow-up at 3 months.

Enrollment: 68 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 45 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Patients will be included in the study if they fulfil the following criteria:

• Adults (20-40 years) with chronic non-specific neck pain (≥3 months' duration).
• Participants with stable internet, and experienced in using either computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

Exclusion Criteria

Patients will be excluded if they had:

1. Neck pain due to specific pathologies (e.g., fractures, infections, or malignancies) and severe neurological deficits.
2. History of neck surgery.
3. Participants with cognitive impairments or language barriers that would prevent them from following the interventions.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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68 participants in 3 patient groups

Real-time Video-Guided Neck Exercises (Tele-rehabilitation)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this arm receive real-time, synchronous tele-rehabilitation sessions delivered via Microsoft Teams video conferencing platform. A licensed physiotherapist provides live supervision, real-time feedback, and technique correction throughout each session. This arm tests the effectiveness of remote delivery of structured neck exercises with synchronous clinician guidance.

Treatment:

Other: Real-Time Video-Guided Neck Exercises (Tele-Rehabilitation)

In-Person Supervised Neck Exercises (Face-to-Face)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this arm receive traditional, in-person supervised exercise sessions at a clinical facility. A licensed physiotherapist provides hands-on guidance, manual corrections, and real-time feedback during each session. This arm serves as the standard care comparison and tests the effectiveness of conventional face-to-face delivery.

Treatment:

Other: In-Person Supervised Neck Exercises (Face-to-Face)

Hybrid Tele-rehabilitation and In-Person Exercises (Mixed Model)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this arm receive a novel 50/50 hybrid intervention combining equal proportions of tele-rehabilitation and face-to-face sessions delivered in alternating weekly blocks. Weeks with odd numbers (1, 3, 5) consist of three in-person face-to-face sessions, while weeks with even numbers (2, 4, 6) consist of three tele-rehabilitation sessions. This arm tests whether a hybrid approach optimizes accessibility, adherence, and clinical outcomes by combining the convenience of remote delivery with the benefits of in-person supervision.

Treatment:

Other: Hybrid Tele-Rehabilitation and In-Person Exercises (Mixed Model)