Neck PainNCT06564077
ELDOA's Effect in Upper Cross Syndrome
A study testing Eldoa technique with conventional therapy and conventional therapy in people with Neck Pain, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
The aim of this randomized clinical trial is to find the effects of ELDOA on decreasing pain ,kyphosis , improving range of motion and reducing disability Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 40 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Neck Pain
- What is being tested?
- Eldoa technique with conventional therapy and conventional therapy
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 44 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 20 Aug 2024to 10 Jan 2025
- 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 20 to 40 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Forward head posture (Measuring Tape used to record the tragus and wall distance in (cm) ,with considering the normative value 10 to 1055 cm in females and male respectively)
- Limited cervical range of motion (Flexion: less than 80◦, Extension: less than 70◦, Rotation: less than 90◦ both sides., Lateral flexion: less than 20◦)
- Kyphosis measure through flexi curve ruler
- Neck Pain more than 3 on NPRS scale
Who cannot join
- Participants having complaints of dizziness
- History of surgery or fracture
- Severe skin sensitization
- Cervical radiculopathy
- Trauma of upper extremity
- Malignancy of the upper limb or thorax
- Scoliosis
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Effects of ELDOA in Patients With Upper Cross Syndrome
The aim of this randomized clinical trial is to find the effects of ELDOA on decreasing pain ,kyphosis , improving range of motion and reducing disability
Read the detailed description
Upper Cross Syndrome(UCS) is stress over the neck region due to poor posture and ergonomics, particularly sitting or standing. This syndrome can cause joint impairments, mainly targeting the atlanto-occipital joint, shoulder joint, C4-C5, and T4-T5 region . Poor posture can lead to stress on the cervico-thoracic or cervico-cranial junction. Upper crossed syndrome is given its name because an "X," in other words, a cross, can be drawn across the upper body. One arm of the cross indicates the muscles that are typically tight, and the other arm of the cross shows the muscles that are usually weak. Predominantly, the syndrome mainly occurs as a result of muscular imbalance that usually develops between tonic and weak muscles. This imbalance causes postural changes including forward head posture (FHP), hunching of the thoracic spine (rounded upper back), increased cervical lordosis, elevated and protracted shoulders, and scapular winging. The upper cross syndrome can lead to cervical and upper back pain and movement restrictions due to muscle imbalances, consequently causing poor quality of life.
ELDOA is a French acronym. The myofascial ELDOA technique was first described by Guy Voyer in 1979, which is also called LOADS (longitudinal osteoarticular de-coaptation stretching.It is based on active traction exercises for spacing the joint, fascial and spinal stretching by assuming a specific posture for 1 min. It targets spinal strengthening and decompression. ELDOA has originated from various treatment approaches and creates local and general effects. It allows decompression of zygopopheasal joints, more absorption of fluids in the disc, increase circulation, improve tone and end range. It also allows the correction of impaired posture, improving respiration and proprioceptive facilitation of the concerned segment. Myofascial tension induced between superior vertebra which is a wandering point and the inferior vertebrae which is a fixed point. Verbal cues are given to the subject for the encouragement goals and for maintaining proper position and not dropping a pose. Several conditions have been treated with ELDOA, including prolapsed intervertebral discs, piriformis syndrome, chronic low back pain, cervical radiculopathy, active trigger points, and forward head posture. Disc encryption existing at any level of the spine can be addressed through specific ELDOA poses.
The Rational of the present study is to determine the effects of ELDOA on decreasing pain, kyphosis, improving range of motion and reducing disability.
- Conditions
- Neck Pain
- Being tested
- Eldoa technique with conventional therapy, conventional therapy
- Keywords
- Upper Cross Syndrome, ELDOA, pain
- Medical subject headings
- Neck Pain, Oculocerebral hypopigmentation syndrome type Preus, Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Eldoa technique with conventional therapyOther
is myofascial stretching technique of the cervical spine. Patients were asked to adopt desired position to target intervertebral segments. Breathing is also important factor in ELDOA stretch. Patients were instructed to not to hold or strain breathing through promoting diaphragmatic breathing.
- Hot pack for 20 minutes
- Strengthening exercises for deep neck flexors, rhomboids, serratus anterior, and lower trapezius (2 sets of 10 reps per day).
- Stretching exercise for pectoralis muscle (20 sec hold,5 reps)
conventional therapyOther
- Hot pack for 20 minutes
- Strengthening exercises for deep neck flexors, rhomboids, serratus anterior, and lower trapezius (2 sets of 10 reps per day).
- Stretching exercise for pectoralis muscle (20 sec hold,5 reps)
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Eldoa technique with conventional therapy | Experimental | It is myofascial stretching technique of the cervical spine. Patients were asked to adopt desired position to target intervertebral segments. Breathing is also important factor in ELDOA stretch. Patients were instructed to not to hold or strain breathing through promoting diaphragmatic breathing.
* Hot pack for 20 minutes
* Strengthening exercises for deep neck flexors, rhomboids, serratus anterior, and lower trapezius (2 sets of 10 reps per day).
* Stretching exercise for pectoralis muscle (20 sec hold,5 reps) Receives: Other: Eldoa technique with conventional therapy |
| conventional therapy | Active comparator | * Hot pack for 20 minutes
* Strengthening exercises for deep neck flexors, rhomboids, serratus anterior, and lower trapezius (2 sets of 10 reps per day).
* Stretching exercise for pectoralis muscle (20 sec hold,5 reps) Receives: Other: conventional therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRPS)
The NPRS is a self-reported or clinician-administered measurement tool consisting of a numerical point scale with extreme anchors of "no pain" to "extreme pain". The scale is typically set up on a horizontal or vertical line, ranges most commonly from 0-10 or 0-100 and can be administered in written or verbal form. The test-retest reliability for the NPRS has been demonstrated to be moderate to high, varying from 0.67 to 0.96. the NPRS has 0.79 to 0.95 convergent validity.
Measured: two weeks
Neck disability index (NDI).
NDI is a patient completed, condition specific functional status questionnaire with 10 items including pain, personal care, lifting, reading, headache, concentration, work, driving, sleeping and recreation each section of 5 marks. Interpretation of this scale is as 0 score indicates no activity limitation and 5 score indicates complete activity limitation. Score ranges from 0 to 50 in which 0 indicates no disability and 50 means maximum disability. A higher score indicated a greater level of activity limitation
Measured: two weeks
Inclinometer.
It is used to measure the cervical range of motion. Cervical spine in neutral position place one inclinometer on C7 spinous process and other over the top of head. adjust both inclinometer dial to 0. Patient perform ranges and record reading on both inclinometer. Mathematically difference between the 2 readings is range of motion.
Measured: two weeks
Flexi curve ruler
A flexi curve ruler, is used for measuring a kyphotic index that is calculated as the width divided by the length of the thoracic curve, multiplied by 100. the evaluator mark the second and twelfth back vertebrae with a marker. All the measurements conduct in a relax standing position, that the subjects ask to put their weight between their legs and look directly to the front. After marking the intended points, the flexible ruler place on the spine in such a way that it takes shape of the selected area and there is no empty space between the ruler and the spine. Then, the marked points on the spine transfer to the ruler. At the end, the ruler carefully separate from the spine and place on the target paper, and the curves draw on the paper with a pencil and the target points specified. The distance between two points L and the depth of curvature H measure by the ruler and then measure through formula
Measured: two weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Aug 2024
- Study start20 Aug 2024
- Primary completion2 Dec 2024
- Study completion10 Jan 2025
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 Riphah International UniversityThe 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
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 44 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- maria Khalid, MSOMPT, Principal investigator, Riphah International University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06564077
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- REC 01937 Sundas Sultan
- Status last verified
- Aug 2025
- First submitted
- 19 Aug 2024
- Last updated
- 22 Aug 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Aug 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of ELDOA in Patients With Upper Cross Syndrome
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06564077
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- REC 01937 Sundas Sultan
- Conditions
- Neck Pain
- Keywords
- Upper Cross Syndrome, ELDOA, pain
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 44 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 Aug 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 2 Dec 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 10 Jan 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 Aug 2024 (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.
The aim of this randomized clinical trial is to find the effects of ELDOA on decreasing pain ,kyphosis , improving range of motion and reducing disability
Detailed description
Upper Cross Syndrome(UCS) is stress over the neck region due to poor posture and ergonomics, particularly sitting or standing. This syndrome can cause joint impairments, mainly targeting the atlanto-occipital joint, shoulder joint, C4-C5, and T4-T5 region . Poor posture can lead to stress on the cervico-thoracic or cervico-cranial junction. Upper crossed syndrome is given its name because an "X," in other words, a cross, can be drawn across the upper body. One arm of the cross indicates the muscles that are typically tight, and the other arm of the cross shows the muscles that are usually weak. Predominantly, the syndrome mainly occurs as a result of muscular imbalance that usually develops between tonic and weak muscles. This imbalance causes postural changes including forward head posture (FHP), hunching of the thoracic spine (rounded upper back), increased cervical lordosis, elevated and protracted shoulders, and scapular winging. The upper cross syndrome can lead to cervical and upper back pain and movement restrictions due to muscle imbalances, consequently causing poor quality of life.
ELDOA is a French acronym. The myofascial ELDOA technique was first described by Guy Voyer in 1979, which is also called LOADS (longitudinal osteoarticular de-coaptation stretching.It is based on active traction exercises for spacing the joint, fascial and spinal stretching by assuming a specific posture for 1 min. It targets spinal strengthening and decompression. ELDOA has originated from various treatment approaches and creates local and general effects. It allows decompression of zygopopheasal joints, more absorption of fluids in the disc, increase circulation, improve tone and end range. It also allows the correction of impaired posture, improving respiration and proprioceptive facilitation of the concerned segment. Myofascial tension induced between superior vertebra which is a wandering point and the inferior vertebrae which is a fixed point. Verbal cues are given to the subject for the encouragement goals and for maintaining proper position and not dropping a pose. Several conditions have been treated with ELDOA, including prolapsed intervertebral discs, piriformis syndrome, chronic low back pain, cervical radiculopathy, active trigger points, and forward head posture. Disc encryption existing at any level of the spine can be addressed through specific ELDOA poses.
The Rational of the present study is to determine the effects of ELDOA on decreasing pain, kyphosis, improving range of motion and reducing disability.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Eldoa technique with conventional therapy | Experimental | Other: Eldoa technique with conventional therapyIt is myofascial stretching technique of the cervical spine. Patients were asked to adopt desired position to target intervertebral segments. Breathing is also important factor in ELDOA stretch. Patients were instructed to not to hold or strain breathing through promoting diaphragmatic breathing. * Hot pack for 20 minutes * Strengthening exercises for deep neck flexors, rhomboids, serratus anterior, and lower trapezius (2 sets of 10 reps per day). * Stretching exercise for pectoralis muscle (20 sec hold,5 reps) |
| conventional therapy | Active comparator | Other: conventional therapy* Hot pack for 20 minutes * Strengthening exercises for deep neck flexors, rhomboids, serratus anterior, and lower trapezius (2 sets of 10 reps per day). * Stretching exercise for pectoralis muscle (20 sec hold,5 reps) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Forward head posture (Measuring Tape used to record the tragus and wall distance in (cm) ,with considering the normative value 10 to 1055 cm in females and male respectively)
- Limited cervical range of motion (Flexion: less than 80◦, Extension: less than 70◦, Rotation: less than 90◦ both sides., Lateral flexion: less than 20◦)
- Kyphosis measure through flexi curve ruler
- Neck Pain more than 3 on NPRS scale
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Participants having complaints of dizziness
- History of surgery or fracture
- Severe skin sensitization
- Cervical radiculopathy
- Trauma of upper extremity
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Eldoa technique with conventional therapyis myofascial stretching technique of the cervical spine. Patients were asked to adopt desired position to target intervertebral segments. Breathing is also important factor in ELDOA stretch. Patients were instructed to not to hold or strain breathing through promoting diaphragmatic breathing. * Hot pack for 20 minutes * Strengthening exercises for deep neck flexors, rhomboids, serratus anterior, and lower trapezius (2 sets of 10 reps per day). * Stretching exercise for pectoralis muscle (20 sec hold,5 reps) | Other | Eldoa technique with conventional therapy |
| conventional therapy* Hot pack for 20 minutes * Strengthening exercises for deep neck flexors, rhomboids, serratus anterior, and lower trapezius (2 sets of 10 reps per day). * Stretching exercise for pectoralis muscle (20 sec hold,5 reps) | Other | conventional therapy |
Primary outcome
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRPS)
Time frame: two weeks
The NPRS is a self-reported or clinician-administered measurement tool consisting of a numerical point scale with extreme anchors of "no pain" to "extreme pain". The scale is typically set up on a horizontal or vertical line, ranges most commonly from 0-10 or 0-100 and can be administered in written or verbal form. The test-retest reliability for the NPRS has been demonstrated to be moderate to high, varying from 0.67 to 0.96. the NPRS has 0.79 to 0.95 convergent validity.
Neck disability index (NDI).
Time frame: two weeks
NDI is a patient completed, condition specific functional status questionnaire with 10 items including pain, personal care, lifting, reading, headache, concentration, work, driving, sleeping and recreation each section of 5 marks. Interpretation of this scale is as 0 score indicates no activity limitation and 5 score indicates complete activity limitation. Score ranges from 0 to 50 in which 0 indicates no disability and 50 means maximum disability. A higher score indicated a greater level of activity limitation
Inclinometer.
Time frame: two weeks
It is used to measure the cervical range of motion. Cervical spine in neutral position place one inclinometer on C7 spinous process and other over the top of head. adjust both inclinometer dial to 0. Patient perform ranges and record reading on both inclinometer. Mathematically difference between the 2 readings is range of motion.
Flexi curve ruler
Time frame: two weeks
A flexi curve ruler, is used for measuring a kyphotic index that is calculated as the width divided by the length of the thoracic curve, multiplied by 100. the evaluator mark the second and twelfth back vertebrae with a marker. All the measurements conduct in a relax standing position, that the subjects ask to put their weight between their legs and look directly to the front. After marking the intended points, the flexible ruler place on the spine in such a way that it takes shape of the selected area and there is no empty space between the ruler and the spine. Then, the marked points on the spine transfer to the ruler. At the end, the ruler carefully separate from the spine and place on the target paper, and the curves draw on the paper with a pencil and the target points specified. The distance between two points L and the depth of curvature H measure by the ruler and then measure through formula
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 22 Aug 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
maria Khalid, MSOMPT principal investigator
Riphah International University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Eldoa technique with conventional therapy and conventional therapy in people with Neck Pain, run by Riphah International University 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 4 inclusion and 7 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 22 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?
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRPS) (time frame: two weeks). The study lists 4 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 22 Aug 2025.