Cervical RadiculopathyNCT07321119
Correlation Between Cervical Deep Flexors Endurance and Proprioception Function in Cervical Radiculopathy
An observational study of Cervical Radiculopathy, run by Delta University for Science and Technology.
Trial summary
In cervical radiculopathy, reduced endurance of the deep cervical flexor muscles is associated with impaired cervical proprioception. This relationship reflects altered sensorimotor control due to muscle dysfunction and neural compromise, emphasizing the need for deep flexor endurance training in rehabilitation. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 30 to 45 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- What is being tested?
- cevical range of motion device
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- How many people
- 80 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Jan 2026to 1 Mar 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 30 to 45 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Study population: The study population consisted of 80 patients with cervical radiculopathy recruited from outpatient physical therapy clinics. Participants were adults of both sexes, aged between 20 and 60 years, presenting with neck pain associated with unilateral or bilateral upper limb radicular symptoms, including pain, numbness, or weakness. Cervical radiculopathy was diagnosed based on clinical examination findings such as dermatomal pain distribution, positive cervical compression tests, and neurological deficits, with imaging confirmation when available. All participants were in the subacute to chronic stage of the condition and were able to sit independently and follow verbal instructions during assessment. Patients with a history of cervical spine surgery, recent trauma, vestibular disorders, or other neurological or systemic conditions affecting cervical proprioception were excluded. This population was selected to investigate the relationship between cervical deep flexor endurance and cerv
Who may be able to join
- Adults diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy based on clinical examination (± imaging confirmation).
- Presence of neck pain with radiating symptoms to the upper limb for at least 4 weeks.
- Age range 20-60 years.
- Ability to understand instructions and participate in cervical endurance and proprioception assessments.
Who cannot join
- History of cervical spine surgery or acute cervical trauma.
- Presence of neurological disorders other than cervical radiculopathy (e.g., stroke, multiple sclerosis).
- Vestibular disorders or conditions affecting balance and head position sense.
- Inflammatory, rheumatologic, or severe musculoskeletal conditions involving the cervical spine.
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Correlation Between Endurance and Proprioception Function in Cervical Radiculopathy
In cervical radiculopathy, reduced endurance of the deep cervical flexor muscles is associated with impaired cervical proprioception. This relationship reflects altered sensorimotor control due to muscle dysfunction and neural compromise, emphasizing the need for deep flexor endurance training in rehabilitation.
Read the detailed description
In patients with cervical radiculopathy, endurance of the deep cervical flexor muscles (longus capitis and longus colli) plays a crucial role in maintaining cervical segmental stability and accurate sensorimotor control. These muscles are rich in muscle spindles and provide continuous afferent input necessary for cervical proprioception, including joint position sense and movement accuracy. When deep cervical flexor endurance is reduced, there is increased reliance on superficial neck muscles, leading to altered motor patterns and diminished quality of proprioceptive feedback.
Cervical radiculopathy further disrupts proprioceptive function through nerve root compression, inflammation, and impaired neural conduction, which affect both sensory input and motor output. This neuromuscular dysfunction results in increased joint position errors, delayed muscle activation, and poor postural control. Consequently, a significant correlation is observed between decreased deep cervical flexor endurance and impaired cervical proprioception, suggesting that deficits in muscle endurance contribute directly to sensorimotor dysfunction. These findings support rehabilitation approaches that emphasize endurance training of the deep cervical flexors to restore proprioceptive accuracy and cervical motor control in patients with cervical radiculopathy.
- Conditions
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Being tested
- cevical range of motion device
- Medical subject headings
- Radiculopathy
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
cevical range of motion deviceDevice
Cervical proprioception was evaluated using the Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) device by assessing joint position sense (JPS). With the participant seated in an upright position, the CROM device was securely fitted to the head. The patient was instructed to actively move the head from a neutral starting position into a specific direction (flexion, extension, rotation, or lateral flexion), then return to the perceived neutral position with eyes closed.
The difference between the starting neutral position and the repositioned angle was recorded as the joint position error (JPE), measured in degrees. Multiple trials were performed for each movement direction, and the mean JPE value was calculated. Higher JPE values indicated poorer cervical proprioceptive accuracy. The CROM device is considered a reliable and valid clinical tool for quantifying cervical proprioception in patients with cervical radiculopathy.
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Cervical proprioception errors by using joint position sense via CROM device
Cervical proprioception was assessed using the CROM device by measuring joint position sense error. Participants were seated upright with the trunk stabilized and the CROM mounted on the head; visual input was eliminated by closing the eyes. From a neutral head position, participants actively moved the head to a predetermined target angle (approximately 50-60% of available cervical range of motion) in flexion, extension, or rotation, held the position briefly, returned to neutral, and then attempted to reproduce the target position. The absolute difference between the target and reproduced angles, recorded in degrees by the CROM, represented the joint position error, and the mean of three trials for each movement direction was used for analy
Measured: baseline
Secondary outcomes (1)
Deep flexor cervical muscle endurance using biofeedback device
Deep cervical flexor muscle endurance was assessed using a pressure biofeedback unit. Participants were positioned in crook-lying with the pressure cuff placed suboccipitally and inflated to a baseline pressure of 20 mmHg. After instruction and practice of the craniocervical flexion action, participants were asked to incrementally increase and maintain pressure (22-30 mmHg) by performing a gentle nodding movement without activation of superficial neck muscles. Endurance was recorded as the maximum pressure level that could be held steadily for 10 seconds with correct technique, and the total performance score was determined based on the highest successfully maintained pressure level.
Measured: baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 Jan 2026
- Study start1 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Feb 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Mar 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Cervical RadiculopathyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Delta University for Science and Technology
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ibrahim Ahmed Ibrahim Abu Ella, Delta University for Science and Technology
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07321119
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- trial registry 3
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 13 Dec 2025
- Last updated
- 6 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Rafiq S, Zafar H, Gillani SA, Waqas MS, Liaqat S, Zia A, Rafiq Y. Effects of Neurodynamic Mobilization on Health-Related Quality of Life and Cervical Deep Flexors Endurance in Patients of Cervical Radiculopathy: A Randomized Trial. Biomed Res Int. 2022 Oct 5;2022:9385459. doi: 10.1155/2022/9385459. eCollection 2022.
PubMed 36246968
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Correlation Between Endurance and Proprioception Function in Cervical Radiculopathy
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07321119
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- trial registry 3
- Conditions
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Delta University for Science and TechnologyUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Feb 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 6 Jan 2026 (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.
In cervical radiculopathy, reduced endurance of the deep cervical flexor muscles is associated with impaired cervical proprioception. This relationship reflects altered sensorimotor control due to muscle dysfunction and neural compromise, emphasizing the need for deep flexor endurance training in rehabilitation.
Detailed description
In patients with cervical radiculopathy, endurance of the deep cervical flexor muscles (longus capitis and longus colli) plays a crucial role in maintaining cervical segmental stability and accurate sensorimotor control. These muscles are rich in muscle spindles and provide continuous afferent input necessary for cervical proprioception, including joint position sense and movement accuracy. When deep cervical flexor endurance is reduced, there is increased reliance on superficial neck muscles, leading to altered motor patterns and diminished quality of proprioceptive feedback.
Cervical radiculopathy further disrupts proprioceptive function through nerve root compression, inflammation, and impaired neural conduction, which affect both sensory input and motor output. This neuromuscular dysfunction results in increased joint position errors, delayed muscle activation, and poor postural control. Consequently, a significant correlation is observed between decreased deep cervical flexor endurance and impaired cervical proprioception, suggesting that deficits in muscle endurance contribute directly to sensorimotor dysfunction. These findings support rehabilitation approaches that emphasize endurance training of the deep cervical flexors to restore proprioceptive accuracy and cervical motor control in patients with cervical radiculopathy.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 30 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
- Study population
- The study population consisted of 80 patients with cervical radiculopathy recruited from outpatient physical therapy clinics. Participants were adults of both sexes, aged between 20 and 60 years, presenting with neck pain associated with unilateral or bilateral upper limb radicular symptoms, including pain, numbness, or weakness. Cervical radiculopathy was diagnosed based on clinical examination findings such as dermatomal pain distribution, positive cervical compression tests, and neurological deficits, with imaging confirmation when available. All participants were in the subacute to chronic stage of the condition and were able to sit independently and follow verbal instructions during assessment. Patients with a history of cervical spine surgery, recent trauma, vestibular disorders, or other neurological or systemic conditions affecting cervical proprioception were excluded. This population was selected to investigate the relationship between cervical deep flexor endurance and cerv
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Adults diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy based on clinical examination (± imaging confirmation).
- Presence of neck pain with radiating symptoms to the upper limb for at least 4 weeks.
- Age range 20-60 years.
- Ability to understand instructions and participate in cervical endurance and proprioception assessments.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- History of cervical spine surgery or acute cervical trauma.
- Presence of neurological disorders other than cervical radiculopathy (e.g., stroke, multiple sclerosis).
- Vestibular disorders or conditions affecting balance and head position sense.
- Inflammatory, rheumatologic, or severe musculoskeletal conditions involving the cervical spine.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| cevical range of motion deviceCervical proprioception was evaluated using the Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) device by assessing joint position sense (JPS). With the participant seated in an upright position, the CROM device was securely fitted to the head. The patient was instructed to actively move the head from a neutral starting position into a specific direction (flexion, extension, rotation, or lateral flexion), then return to the perceived neutral position with eyes closed. The difference between the starting neutral position and the repositioned angle was recorded as the joint position error (JPE), measured in degrees. Multiple trials were performed for each movement direction, and the mean JPE value was calculated. Higher JPE values indicated poorer cervical proprioceptive accuracy. The CROM device is considered a reliable and valid clinical tool for quantifying cervical proprioception in patients with cervical radiculopathy. | Device | – |
Primary outcome
Cervical proprioception errors by using joint position sense via CROM device
Time frame: baseline
Cervical proprioception was assessed using the CROM device by measuring joint position sense error. Participants were seated upright with the trunk stabilized and the CROM mounted on the head; visual input was eliminated by closing the eyes. From a neutral head position, participants actively moved the head to a predetermined target angle (approximately 50-60% of available cervical range of motion) in flexion, extension, or rotation, held the position briefly, returned to neutral, and then attempted to reproduce the target position. The absolute difference between the target and reproduced angles, recorded in degrees by the CROM, represented the joint position error, and the mean of three trials for each movement direction was used for analy
1 secondary outcome
Deep flexor cervical muscle endurance using biofeedback device
Time frame: baseline
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Jan 2026.
- Background: PubMed 36246968Rafiq S, Zafar H, Gillani SA, Waqas MS, Liaqat S, Zia A, Rafiq Y. Effects of Neurodynamic Mobilization on Health-Related Quality of Life and Cervical Deep Flexors Endurance in Patients of Cervical Radiculopathy: A Randomized Trial. Biomed Res Int. 2022 Oct 5;2022:9385459. doi: 10.1155/2022/9385459. eCollection 2022.
- 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.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Cervical Radiculopathy, run by Delta University for Science and Technology.
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 4 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact ibrahim A abu ella, Phd (+201008442281, ibrahimneuron@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Cervical proprioception errors by using joint position sense via CROM device (time frame: baseline). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07321119, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 6 Jan 2026.