Upper Cross SyndromeNCT07628413
Comparative Effects of Egoscue and Feldenkrais Exercises on in Upper Cross Syndrome
A study testing Egoscue exercises and Feldenkrais exercises in people with Upper Cross Syndrome, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
Upper cross syndrome is a common postural dysfunction that is caused due to alternating tightness and weakness in the opposite muscle groups of the neck, shoulders and upper back which results in abnormal postural deviations. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 25 to 45 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Upper Cross Syndrome
- What is being tested?
- Egoscue exercises and Feldenkrais exercises
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 48 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 15 Dec 2025to 15 Jul 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- 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 25 to 45 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 25 to 45 years
- Both genders (male and female)
- Chronic neck pain for more than three months - NPRS (3 to 7)
- Craniovertebral angle less than 50 degrees
- Tight Pectoralis muscle and trapezius
- Weak rhomboids and deep neck flexors
Who cannot join
- Any malignancy related to soft tissue and shoulder joint
- Congenital joint deformity
- Recent fractures to joint
- Recent surgery of shoulder joint or associated structures
- Patients with shoulder dislocation
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Pakistan1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Rabiya Noor
Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000
About this study
Official title: Comparative Effects of Egoscue and Feldenkrais Exercises on Pain, Craniovertebral Angle and Functional Disability in Upper Cross Syndrome
Upper cross syndrome is a common postural dysfunction that is caused due to alternating tightness and weakness in the opposite muscle groups of the neck, shoulders and upper back which results in abnormal postural deviations. The aim of the study will be to compare the effects of Egoscue exercises and Feldenkrais exercises on pain, craniovertebral angle and functional disability in upper cross syndrome.
A Randomized clinical trial will be conducted at Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital, Lahore and Riphah clinic, Lahore through non probability convenience sampling technique on 54 patients which will be allocated using simple random sampling through sealed opaque envelop into Group A and Group B. Group A will be treated with Egoscue exercises and conventional therapy and Group B will be treated with Feldenkrais exercises and conventional therapy at the frequency of 3 sets with 10 repetitions thrice a week. Outcome measures will be conducted through pain, craniovertebral angle and functional disability after 4 weeks. Data will be analyzed with SPSS software version 26. After assessing the normality of data by Shapiro-Wilk test, it will be decided either parametric or non- parametric will be used within the group or between the groups.
- Conditions
- Upper Cross Syndrome
- Being tested
- Egoscue exercises, Feldenkrais exercises
- Keywords
- Craniovertebral angle,, upper cross syndrome
- Medical subject headings
- Oculocerebral hypopigmentation syndrome type Preus
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Egoscue exercisesOther
- Static Back (for 5 - 10 minutes)
- Cervical retractions (10- 15 reps)
- Wall Angels (2 sets of 10)
- Standing arm circles (40 forward reps \& 40 backward reps)
- Static wall (for 5-8 minutes)
- Modified pre stretch on wall (Hold for 30- 45 secs on each side)
- Air bench (for 1- 2 minutes)
- Tower shoulder rolls (stay for 10 minutes)
Feldenkrais exercisesOther
- Shoulder Circles with awareness
- Head Rolls with Breath awareness
- Arm Clock (Arm circles on the floor)
- Scapular Glides
- Pelvic clock with shoulder integration
- Shoulder blades and arm lifting
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Egoscue exercises | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Egoscue exercises |
| Feldenkrais exercises | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Other: Feldenkrais exercises |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Disability Index (DNI)
This questionnaire will be used to asses disability. It comprises of 10 items; 7 related to daily living activities; 2 related to pain and 1 related to concentration. Each item is scored from 0 to 5. Total score is expressed as a percentage, with higher scores related to greater disability. Minimum detectable change measurements vary from 4.2 to 13.4, and minimum clinically important differences vary from 5 and 9.5
Measured: 6th week
Craniovertebral angle (CVA)
Craniovertebral angle can be measured with Image J software. If the angle is less than 50 degrees (< 50 degree). The angle will be between tragus of the ear to cervical spinous process C7.
Measured: 6th week
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Jun 2026
- Study start15 Dec 2025
- Primary completion15 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion15 Jul 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 Upper Cross SyndromeStudies 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
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 48 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- areesha shakeel, MSPT(CP), Principal investigator, Riphah International University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07628413
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- REC/RCR&AHS/25/0111
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 1 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 5 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Jeong GH, Lee BH. Effects of Telerehabilitation Combining Diaphragmatic Breathing Re-Education and Shoulder Stabilization Exercises on Neck Pain, Posture, and Function in Young Adult Men with Upper Crossed Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Med. 2024 Mar 11;13(6):1612. doi: 10.3390/jcm13061612.
PubMed 38541838
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparative Effects of Egoscue and Feldenkrais Exercises on Pain, Craniovertebral Angle and Functional Disability in Upper Cross Syndrome
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07628413
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- REC/RCR&AHS/25/0111
- Conditions
- Upper Cross Syndrome
- Keywords
- Craniovertebral angle,, upper cross syndrome
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 48 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 15 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 5 Jun 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.
Upper cross syndrome is a common postural dysfunction that is caused due to alternating tightness and weakness in the opposite muscle groups of the neck, shoulders and upper back which results in abnormal postural deviations. The aim of the study will be to compare the effects of Egoscue exercises and Feldenkrais exercises on pain, craniovertebral angle and functional disability in upper cross syndrome.
A Randomized clinical trial will be conducted at Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital, Lahore and Riphah clinic, Lahore through non probability convenience sampling technique on 54 patients which will be allocated using simple random sampling through sealed opaque envelop into Group A and Group B. Group A will be treated with Egoscue exercises and conventional therapy and Group B will be treated with Feldenkrais exercises and conventional therapy at the frequency of 3 sets with 10 repetitions thrice a week. Outcome measures will be conducted through pain, craniovertebral angle and functional disability after 4 weeks. Data will be analyzed with SPSS software version 26. After assessing the normality of data by Shapiro-Wilk test, it will be decided either parametric or non- parametric will be used within the group or between the groups.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Egoscue exercises | Experimental | Other: Egoscue exercises |
| Feldenkrais exercises | Active comparator | Other: Feldenkrais exercises |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 25 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Age 25 to 45 years
- Both genders (male and female)
- Chronic neck pain for more than three months - NPRS (3 to 7)
- Craniovertebral angle less than 50 degrees
- Tight Pectoralis muscle and trapezius
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Any malignancy related to soft tissue and shoulder joint
- Congenital joint deformity
- Recent fractures to joint
- Recent surgery of shoulder joint or associated structures
- Patients with shoulder dislocation
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Egoscue exercises* Static Back (for 5 - 10 minutes) * Cervical retractions (10- 15 reps) * Wall Angels (2 sets of 10) * Standing arm circles (40 forward reps \& 40 backward reps) * Static wall (for 5-8 minutes) * Modified pre stretch on wall (Hold for 30- 45 secs on each side) * Air bench (for 1- 2 minutes) * Tower shoulder rolls (stay for 10 minutes) | Other | Egoscue exercises |
| Feldenkrais exercises* Shoulder Circles with awareness * Head Rolls with Breath awareness * Arm Clock (Arm circles on the floor) * Scapular Glides * Pelvic clock with shoulder integration * Shoulder blades and arm lifting | Other | Feldenkrais exercises |
Primary outcome
Disability Index (DNI)
Time frame: 6th week
This questionnaire will be used to asses disability. It comprises of 10 items; 7 related to daily living activities; 2 related to pain and 1 related to concentration. Each item is scored from 0 to 5. Total score is expressed as a percentage, with higher scores related to greater disability. Minimum detectable change measurements vary from 4.2 to 13.4, and minimum clinically important differences vary from 5 and 9.5
Craniovertebral angle (CVA)
Time frame: 6th week
Craniovertebral angle can be measured with Image J software. If the angle is less than 50 degrees (< 50 degree). The angle will be between tragus of the ear to cervical spinous process C7.
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 5 Jun 2026.
- Background: PubMed 38541838Jeong GH, Lee BH. Effects of Telerehabilitation Combining Diaphragmatic Breathing Re-Education and Shoulder Stabilization Exercises on Neck Pain, Posture, and Function in Young Adult Men with Upper Crossed Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Med. 2024 Mar 11;13(6):1612. doi: 10.3390/jcm13061612.
- 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.
areesha shakeel, MSPT(CP) 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 Egoscue exercises and Feldenkrais exercises in people with Upper Cross Syndrome, 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 6 inclusion and 5 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Jun 2026. 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?
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 Rabiya Noor, phd (03344355660, Rabiya.Noor@riphah.edu.pk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Disability Index (DNI) (time frame: 6th week). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. 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 NCT07628413, 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 5 Jun 2026.