Neck PainNCT05777408
Additional Effect of Cranial Base Release on Cervical Range and Proprioception in Patients With Mechanical Neck Pain
A study testing Conventional Physical Therapy, Natural Apophyseal glides and Cranial Base Release in people with Neck Pain, run by Foundation University Islamabad at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
Mechanical Neck pain is the second most commonly occurring musculoskeletal disorder worldwide, ranking 4th in overall disability. It is referred to as Nonspecific generalized neck pain with mechanical characteristics with a primary location between the supranuchal line and the first thoracic spinous process… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 40 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Neck Pain
- What is being tested?
- Conventional Physical Therapy, Natural Apophyseal glides and Cranial Base Release
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 1 Jan 2023to 1 Jul 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 40 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Patients diagnosed with mechanical neck pain having reproducible non-specific neck pain with a primary location between the supranuchal line and the first thoracic spinous process
- Male and Female
- Age 18-40 years
- Pain severity on NPRS >3
- Neck Disability score of 20% or above
- Problem not older than 2 months
Who cannot join
- Patients with history of
- Recent significant trauma (including whiplash)
- Radiculopathy
- Cervical fracture
- Neck surgery
- Dizziness, vertigo
Show all 10Show fewer
- Myelopathy, Malignancy
- Metabolic disease
- Diagnosed Osteoporosis, Rheumatoid arthritis
- Long-term corticosteroid and/or painkiller drug use
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Pakistan1 site
Foundation University College of Physical Therapy
Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, 46000
About this study
Mechanical Neck pain is the second most commonly occurring musculoskeletal disorder worldwide, ranking 4th in overall disability. It is referred to as Nonspecific generalized neck pain with mechanical characteristics with a primary location between the supranuchal line and the first thoracic spinous process, includingpatients suffering from mechanical neck pain are reported to have several impairments, including pain, reduced cervical ROM, neck disability, and proprioceptive dysfunction. The treatment indicated involves the use of electrotherapy and thermal modalities. In addition, the use of different manual therapy techniques is advocated; however, the most effective management is still debatable. Evidence suggests that Natural Apophyseal glides have a significant positive effect on mechanical neck pain patients. So the study will identify the additional effect of cranial base release with natural apophyseal glides in alleviating pain and its effects on proprioception.
- Conditions
- Neck Pain
- Being tested
- Conventional Physical Therapy, Natural Apophyseal glides, Cranial Base Release
- Keywords
- Range of Motion, Proprioception
- Medical subject headings
- Neck Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Conventional Physical TherapyProcedure or surgery
- 15 mins of TENS (frequency 100 Hz, phase duration 50 μs) with moist heat over the area of pain
- Isomeric Stretching of neck muscles followed by neck isometrics
Natural Apophyseal glidesProcedure or surgery
-Will be applied in sitting position Therapist right hand would cradle the head such that the little finger would rest on the spinous process of the vertebra that is to be mobilized. The other hands thumb would be used to apply over pressure. Direction of force will be parallel to highly irritable-grossly restricted cervical facet joints. Intervention would involve 3 sets of 20 repetitions in 15minutes, 3 days a week for 2 weeks comprising of total 6 session.
Cranial Base ReleaseProcedure or surgery
Will be performed in lying position. therapist fingers will contact the sub occipital muscles and upward pressure would be given until the tissues and muscles relax. it will be given once daily for 3 days a week and will continue for 2 weeks
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control Group | Active comparator | Participants of this group will receive the conventional physical therapy protocol mentioned above. In addition to this, they will receive Natural apophyseal glides 3 sets of 10 repetitions.
* Frequency: 3 times a week for 2 weeks. 6 sessions in total.
* Mobilizations will be performed in Grade 1 initially and then progressed to Grade 2 and 3 depending on the patients pain status and compliance. Receives: Procedure: Conventional Physical Therapy; Procedure: Natural Apophyseal glides |
| Experimental Group | Experimental | * Participants of this Group will receive the conventional physical therapy protocol mentioned above. In addition to this, they will receive Natural apophyseal glides and cranial base release.
* Frequency: 3 times a week for 2 weeks. 6 sessions in total.
* Cranial base release would be given for around 1-4minutes until the tissues relax and would be given once daily Receives: Procedure: Conventional Physical Therapy; Procedure: Natural Apophyseal glides; Procedure: Cranial Base Release |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Pain
Pain will be measured on Numeric Pain Rating Scale.
Measured: 2 weeks
Change in ROM
Cervical rotation will be measured through CROM device
Measured: 2 weeks
Change in Cervical Proprioception
Will be measured from Laser Pointer Method
Measured: 2 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Mar 2023
- Study start1 Jan 2023
- Primary completion1 Jun 2023
- Study completion1 Jul 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Neck PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Foundation University IslamabadThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- This is a randomized controlled trial having two groups. One group will receive conventional physical therapy along with Natural apophyseal glides and the second will receive Natural Apophyseal Glides in addition to cranial base release with conventional physical therapy. Both groups will be recruited concurrently.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Foundation University Islamabad
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05777408
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- FUI/CTR/2023/3
- Status last verified
- Mar 2023
- First submitted
- 9 Mar 2023
- Last updated
- 14 Aug 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 Aug 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Additional Effect of Cranial Base Release on Cervical Range and Proprioception in Patients With Mechanical Neck Pain
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05777408
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- FUI/CTR/2023/3
- Conditions
- Neck Pain
- Keywords
- Range of Motion, Proprioception
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Foundation University IslamabadUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jan 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jun 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Jul 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 Mar 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Mechanical Neck pain is the second most commonly occurring musculoskeletal disorder worldwide, ranking 4th in overall disability. It is referred to as Nonspecific generalized neck pain with mechanical characteristics with a primary location between the supranuchal line and the first thoracic spinous process, includingpatients suffering from mechanical neck pain are reported to have several impairments, including pain, reduced cervical ROM, neck disability, and proprioceptive dysfunction. The treatment indicated involves the use of electrotherapy and thermal modalities. In addition, the use of different manual therapy techniques is advocated; however, the most effective management is still debatable. Evidence suggests that Natural Apophyseal glides have a significant positive effect on mechanical neck pain patients. So the study will identify the additional effect of cranial base release with natural apophyseal glides in alleviating pain and its effects on proprioception.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- This is a randomized controlled trial having two groups. One group will receive conventional physical therapy along with Natural apophyseal glides and the second will receive Natural Apophyseal Glides in addition to cranial base release with conventional physical therapy. Both groups will be recruited concurrently.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control Group | Active comparator | Procedure: Conventional Physical Therapy, Procedure: Natural Apophyseal glidesParticipants of this group will receive the conventional physical therapy protocol mentioned above. In addition to this, they will receive Natural apophyseal glides 3 sets of 10 repetitions. * Frequency: 3 times a week for 2 weeks. 6 sessions in total. * Mobilizations will be performed in Grade 1 initially and then progressed to Grade 2 and 3 depending on the patients pain status and compliance. |
| Experimental Group | Experimental | Procedure: Conventional Physical Therapy, Procedure: Natural Apophyseal glides, Procedure: Cranial Base Release* Participants of this Group will receive the conventional physical therapy protocol mentioned above. In addition to this, they will receive Natural apophyseal glides and cranial base release. * Frequency: 3 times a week for 2 weeks. 6 sessions in total. * Cranial base release would be given for around 1-4minutes until the tissues relax and would be given once daily |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Patients diagnosed with mechanical neck pain having reproducible non-specific neck pain with a primary location between the supranuchal line and the first thoracic spinous process
- Male and Female
- Age 18-40 years
- Pain severity on NPRS >3
- Neck Disability score of 20% or above
Key exclusion criteria (10 listed)
- Patients with history of
- Recent significant trauma (including whiplash)
- Radiculopathy
- Cervical fracture
- Neck surgery
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional Physical Therapy* 15 mins of TENS (frequency 100 Hz, phase duration 50 μs) with moist heat over the area of pain * Isomeric Stretching of neck muscles followed by neck isometrics | Procedure or surgery | Control Group, Experimental Group |
| Natural Apophyseal glides-Will be applied in sitting position Therapist right hand would cradle the head such that the little finger would rest on the spinous process of the vertebra that is to be mobilized. The other hands thumb would be used to apply over pressure. Direction of force will be parallel to highly irritable-grossly restricted cervical facet joints. Intervention would involve 3 sets of 20 repetitions in 15minutes, 3 days a week for 2 weeks comprising of total 6 session. | Procedure or surgery | Control Group, Experimental Group |
| Cranial Base ReleaseWill be performed in lying position. therapist fingers will contact the sub occipital muscles and upward pressure would be given until the tissues and muscles relax. it will be given once daily for 3 days a week and will continue for 2 weeks | Procedure or surgery | Experimental Group |
Primary outcome
Change in Pain
Time frame: 2 weeks
Pain will be measured on Numeric Pain Rating Scale.
Change in ROM
Time frame: 2 weeks
Cervical rotation will be measured through CROM device
Change in Cervical Proprioception
Time frame: 2 weeks
Will be measured from Laser Pointer Method
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 14 Aug 2025.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Conventional Physical Therapy, Natural Apophyseal glides and Cranial Base Release in people with Neck Pain, run by Foundation University Islamabad at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Aug 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Pain (time frame: 2 weeks). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Aug 2025.