Effects of Different Exercise Protocols on Physical and Cognitive Changes in People With Chronic Neck Pain

Summary

This study aims to investigate the effects of different exercise approaches on physical status, cognitive functions, brain structures, and blood biomarkers in individuals with chronic neck pain.

Conditions

• Neck Pain
• Chronic Neck Pain

Interventions

OTHER

Aerobic exercise

Participants will receive a total of 36 sessions of treatment, 3 sessions per week for 12 weeks. Aerobic exercise training will be performed with a bicycle ergometer, and a 5-minute warm-up (pedaling without resistance) program will be applied before the exercise training, finished by a 5-minute cool-down program (pedaling without resistance). Details of the intervention is described below: 60% of maximum heart rate, for 30 minutes (1-2nd weeks), 60% of maximum heart rate, for 45 minutes (3-4th weeks), 60% of maximum heart rate, for 60 minutes (5-6th weeks), mid-examination (at the end of the 6th week), 75% of maximum heart rate, for 30 minutes (7-8th weeks), 75% of maximum heart rate, for 45 minutes (9-10th weeks), 75% of maximum heart rate, for 60 minutes (11-12th weeks)

OTHER

Strengthening exercise

A 5-minute warm-up (neck and upper extremity range of motion exercises) will be applied before the exercise training, and finished by a 5-minute cool-down program (neck and upper extremity range of motion exercises). Details of the intervention is described below: Isometric neck exercise (MVC 80%,2x10) and Theraband resistive neck and upper body exercises 10 RM-2x10 (1-2nd weeks), Isometric neck exercise (MVC 80%,3x10) and Theraband resistive neck and upper body exercises 10 RM-3x10 (3-4th weeks), Isometric neck exercise (MVC 80%,3x15) and Theraband resistive neck and upper body exercises 10 RM-3x15 (5-6th weeks) , mid-examination (6th week), Isometric neck exercise (MVC 80%,2x10) Theraband resistive neck and upper body exercises 10 RM-2x10 (7-8th weeks), Isometric neck exercise (MVC 80%,3x10) Theraband resistive neck and upper body exercises 10 RM-3x10 (9-10th weeks), Isometric neck exercise (MVC 80%,3x15) Theraband resistive neck and upper body exercises 10 RM-3x15 (11-12th weeks)

OTHER

Posture and strentching exercise

Posture and stretching exercises and stretching exercises will be applied as a control treatment to volunteers with chronic neck pain included in the control group, and at the end of the study, these people will be included in the training program according to the exercise approach that is effective.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hacettepe University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Ahmet Ilkay Isikay, Associate Professor · Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Hacettepe University

• Asli Pinar, Professor · Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Hacettepe University

• Ezgi Yetim Arsava, PhD · Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Hacettepe University

• Erdem Karabulut, Professor · Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics, Hacettepe University

• Rahsan Gocmen, Associate Professor · Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Hacettepe University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

20 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-05-01

Primary Completion

2026-03-30

Completion

2026-03-30

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations