Office WorkerNCT07874230
Predictors of Pressure Pain Thresholds
An observational study of Office Worker and Myofascial Pain Syndrome (Upper Trapezius), run by Dokuz Eylul University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine whether office-related strain risk, head and neck working posture, and weekly screen time predict the mean pressure pain threshold (PPT) at latent trigger points (LTrPs) in the upper trapezius muscle among office workers. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 25 to 44 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Office Worker, Myofascial Pain Syndrome (Upper Trapezius), Pain Threshold
- How many people
- 67 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 4 Nov 2023to 4 Nov 2025
- Phase
- Observational
- 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 25 to 44 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Study population: office workers
Who may be able to join
- Office workers aged between 25 and 44 years
- Body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 29.9 kg/m²
- Presence of at least one latent trigger point (LTrP) in the upper trapezius muscle on either side
- Voluntary written informed consent
Who cannot join
- History of head, neck, or shoulder surgery
- History of any diagnosis or condition that may be confused with myofascial pain (e.g., fibromyalgia, cervical radiculopathy)
- Any diagnosis or condition that may alter pain sensation or tissue characteristics (e.g., peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus)
- Presence of an active trigger point (spontaneous pain) in the upper trapezius muscle
- Use of painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs within the last 24 hours
- Treatment for myofascial pain within the last 3 months
- BMI below 18.5 or above 29.9 kg/m²
- Pregnancy
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Predictors of Pressure Pain Thresholds at Latent Trigger Points in the Upper Trapezius Among Office Workers
Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine whether office-related strain risk, head and neck working posture, and weekly screen time predict the mean pressure pain threshold (PPT) at latent trigger points (LTrPs) in the upper trapezius muscle among office workers. A secondary aim was to examine relationships among LTrP characteristics, ergonomic risk factors, postural parameters, and demographic variables.
Inclusion criteria: Ages 25-44 years, BMI 18.5-29.9 kg/m², presence of at least one LTrP in the upper trapezius Exclusion criteria: Active trigger points, history of head/neck/shoulder surgery, pain medication use in last 24 hours, recent myofascial pain treatment Assessments Conducted: Demographics \& Time Variables: Age, gender, BMI, years of employment, weekly screen time (phone + computer), daily sitting time LTrP Identification: Manual pincer palpation by experienced physiotherapist (12 years experience) PPT Measurement: Calibrated Baseline Algometer at the most painful LTrP and a non-trigger point site Ergonomic Risk: Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA)
Read more
Postural Assessment: Photogrammetry measuring:
Craniocervical Angle (CCA) Cervicothoracic Angle (CTA) All assessments were conducted one hour after participants started working to allow for postural adaptation.
Read the detailed description
Study Design This is a cross-sectional, observational study conducted at Dokuz Eylul University between October 2023 and August 2024. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Noninvasive Research Ethics Board (Approval number: 2023/31-23, 4 October 2023), and written informed consent is obtained from all participants. All procedures comply with the Declaration of Helsinki.
Recruitment and Screening Office workers at Dokuz Eylul University are recruited through workplace announcements. Eligibility is determined in a two-stage screening process. Participants receive brief education on differentiating active from latent trigger points, and those reporting spontaneous pain are excluded.
Study Procedures All assessments are conducted one hour after participants begin their workday to allow for postural adaptation to their workspace. Each session lasts approximately 40 minutes.
Latent trigger points (LTrPs) are identified by manual pincer palpation of the bilateral upper trapezius by an experienced physiotherapist (12 years of clinical experience). An LTrP is confirmed by localized tenderness, a palpable taut band, and a hypersensitive spot eliciting referred pain on compression without spontaneous symptoms. The most painful LTrP is marked, and the count is verified by repeat palpation.
Pressure pain threshold (PPT) is measured with a calibrated Baseline Algometer at the most painful LTrP and at a standardized non-trigger point site. Pressure is increased at approximately 1 kg/cm² per second, and the procedure is repeated three times at 30-second intervals. The algometer display is concealed from the examiner.
Ergonomic risk is assessed with the Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA), which evaluates chair, monitor, telephone, keyboard and mouse setup and yields a cumulative score.
Head and neck working posture is assessed by photogrammetry. Lateral photographs of participants during their usual work tasks are taken three times at one-minute intervals after a 5-minute adjustment period. The craniocervical angle (CCA) and cervicothoracic angle (CTA) are measured digitally by an evaluator blinded to all other participant data, and the mean of three measurements is used.
Weekly phone screen time is obtained from device digital wellbeing trackers; computer use and daily sitting time are self-reported.
Statistical Analysis Plan The sample size is 67 participants. Analyses are performed in SPSS 26.0, and normality is assessed with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and descriptive statistics. The primary analysis is a hierarchical multiple regression testing whether ROSA score and CTA predict mean PPT at LTrPs after controlling for demographic variables (Step 1: age, gender, BMI, years of employment; Step 2: ROSA score and CTA), with significance set at p < 0.05. Multicollinearity is checked with VIF (< 10) and tolerance (> 0.2).
Secondary analyses use Pearson correlation (and Spearman correlation for the number of LTrPs) to examine relationships among PPT, ROSA score, CCA, CTA, weekly screen time, daily sitting time, years of employment, and demographic variables.
- Conditions
- Office Worker, Myofascial Pain Syndrome (Upper Trapezius), Pain Threshold, Trigger Points, Myofascial, Ergonomics, Ergonomic Risk and Work-related Musculoskeletal Characteristics in Blue- and White-collar Workers
- Keywords
- myofascial pain, office workers, latent, trigger points, determinants, pressure pain threshold, upper trapezius, ROSA, office strain
- Medical subject headings
- Myofascial Pain Syndromes
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| office workers | Office workers aged 25-44 years with BMI 18.5-29.9 kg/m² and at least one latent trigger point (LTrP) in the upper trapezius muscle. Participants were recruited from Dokuz Eylul University between October 2023 and August 2024. All participants were asymptomatic (no spontaneous pain in the upper trapezius) and had no history of head/neck/shoulder surgery, no conditions altering pain sensation, no active trigger points, no pain medication use in the last 24 hours, and no myofascial pain treatment in the last 3 months. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Mean Pressure Pain Threshold at Latent Trigger Points
Measured: baseline (single time point)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Oct 2026
- Study start4 Nov 2023
- Primary completion4 Jul 2025
- Study completion4 Nov 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Office WorkerStudies 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
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 67 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Dokuz Eylul University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Izmir Katip Celebi University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Biron Onur Ugui, Izmir Katip Celebi University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07874230
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2023/31-23
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 8 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 29 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Predictors of Pressure Pain Thresholds at Latent Trigger Points in the Upper Trapezius Among Office Workers
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07874230
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2023/31-23
- Conditions
- Office Worker, Myofascial Pain Syndrome (Upper Trapezius), Pain Threshold, Trigger Points, Myofascial, Ergonomics, Ergonomic Risk and Work-related Musculoskeletal Characteristics in Blue- and White-collar Workers
- Keywords
- myofascial pain, office workers, latent, trigger points, determinants, pressure pain threshold, upper trapezius, ROSA
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 67 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Dokuz Eylul UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Izmir Katip Celebi University
- Study start
- 4 Nov 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 4 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 4 Nov 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 14 Oct 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.
Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine whether office-related strain risk, head and neck working posture, and weekly screen time predict the mean pressure pain threshold (PPT) at latent trigger points (LTrPs) in the upper trapezius muscle among office workers. A secondary aim was to examine relationships among LTrP characteristics, ergonomic risk factors, postural parameters, and demographic variables.
Inclusion criteria: Ages 25-44 years, BMI 18.5-29.9 kg/m², presence of at least one LTrP in the upper trapezius Exclusion criteria: Active trigger points, history of head/neck/shoulder surgery, pain medication use in last 24 hours, recent myofascial pain treatment Assessments Conducted: Demographics \& Time Variables: Age, gender, BMI, years of employment, weekly screen time (phone + computer), daily sitting time LTrP Identification: Manual pincer palpation by experienced physiotherapist (12 years experience) PPT Measurement: Calibrated Baseline Algometer at the most painful LTrP and a non-trigger point site Ergonomic Risk: Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA)
Postural Assessment: Photogrammetry measuring:
Craniocervical Angle (CCA) Cervicothoracic Angle (CTA) All assessments were conducted one hour after participants started working to allow for postural adaptation.
Detailed description
Study Design This is a cross-sectional, observational study conducted at Dokuz Eylul University between October 2023 and August 2024. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Noninvasive Research Ethics Board (Approval number: 2023/31-23, 4 October 2023), and written informed consent is obtained from all participants. All procedures comply with the Declaration of Helsinki.
Recruitment and Screening Office workers at Dokuz Eylul University are recruited through workplace announcements. Eligibility is determined in a two-stage screening process. Participants receive brief education on differentiating active from latent trigger points, and those reporting spontaneous pain are excluded.
Study Procedures All assessments are conducted one hour after participants begin their workday to allow for postural adaptation to their workspace. Each session lasts approximately 40 minutes.
Latent trigger points (LTrPs) are identified by manual pincer palpation of the bilateral upper trapezius by an experienced physiotherapist (12 years of clinical experience). An LTrP is confirmed by localized tenderness, a palpable taut band, and a hypersensitive spot eliciting referred pain on compression without spontaneous symptoms. The most painful LTrP is marked, and the count is verified by repeat palpation.
Pressure pain threshold (PPT) is measured with a calibrated Baseline Algometer at the most painful LTrP and at a standardized non-trigger point site. Pressure is increased at approximately 1 kg/cm² per second, and the procedure is repeated three times at 30-second intervals. The algometer display is concealed from the examiner.
Ergonomic risk is assessed with the Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA), which evaluates chair, monitor, telephone, keyboard and mouse setup and yields a cumulative score.
Head and neck working posture is assessed by photogrammetry. Lateral photographs of participants during their usual work tasks are taken three times at one-minute intervals after a 5-minute adjustment period. The craniocervical angle (CCA) and cervicothoracic angle (CTA) are measured digitally by an evaluator blinded to all other participant data, and the mean of three measurements is used.
Weekly phone screen time is obtained from device digital wellbeing trackers; computer use and daily sitting time are self-reported.
Statistical Analysis Plan The sample size is 67 participants. Analyses are performed in SPSS 26.0, and normality is assessed with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and descriptive statistics. The primary analysis is a hierarchical multiple regression testing whether ROSA score and CTA predict mean PPT at LTrPs after controlling for demographic variables (Step 1: age, gender, BMI, years of employment; Step 2: ROSA score and CTA), with significance set at p < 0.05. Multicollinearity is checked with VIF (< 10) and tolerance (> 0.2).
Secondary analyses use Pearson correlation (and Spearman correlation for the number of LTrPs) to examine relationships among PPT, ROSA score, CCA, CTA, weekly screen time, daily sitting time, years of employment, and demographic variables.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| office workers | – | –Office workers aged 25-44 years with BMI 18.5-29.9 kg/m² and at least one latent trigger point (LTrP) in the upper trapezius muscle. Participants were recruited from Dokuz Eylul University between October 2023 and August 2024. All participants were asymptomatic (no spontaneous pain in the upper trapezius) and had no history of head/neck/shoulder surgery, no conditions altering pain sensation, no active trigger points, no pain medication use in the last 24 hours, and no myofascial pain treatment in the last 3 months. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 25 to 44 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
- Study population
- office workers
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Office workers aged between 25 and 44 years
- Body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 29.9 kg/m²
- Presence of at least one latent trigger point (LTrP) in the upper trapezius muscle on either side
- Voluntary written informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- History of head, neck, or shoulder surgery
- History of any diagnosis or condition that may be confused with myofascial pain (e.g., fibromyalgia, cervical radiculopathy)
- Any diagnosis or condition that may alter pain sensation or tissue characteristics (e.g., peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus)
- Presence of an active trigger point (spontaneous pain) in the upper trapezius muscle
- Use of painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs within the last 24 hours
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Mean Pressure Pain Threshold at Latent Trigger Points
Time frame: baseline (single time point)
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 29 Oct 2026.
Related trials for Office Worker
Not yet recruitingObservational study
Turkish Adaptation of the Perceived Barriers to Exercise Questionnaire for Office Workers
Perceived Barriers to Exercise
Active, not recruiting
Scapular Stabilization Versus Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Technique in Scapular Dyskinesis
Scapular Dyskinesis
Active, not recruiting
Virtual Reality Exergaming During Work Breaks in Office Employees
Exergaming, Virtual Reality Physical Activity
Not yet recruiting
Rigid Taping's Effects on Posture and Balance in Office Workers
Office Workers, Spinal Alignment
Not yet recruiting
Sensory Stimulation Belt for Chronic Low Back Pain in Office Workers
Chronic Low Back Pain
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?
An observational study of Office Worker and Myofascial Pain Syndrome (Upper Trapezius), run by Dokuz Eylul University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
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 8 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 29 Oct 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 Turkey (Türkiye). 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?
Mean Pressure Pain Threshold at Latent Trigger Points (time frame: baseline (single time point)). 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 29 Oct 2026.