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Diaphragmatic Breathing and Electroacupuncture for Chronic Neck Pain

NCT07684092 · Status: ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 72

Last updated 2026-07-09

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Chronic non specific neck pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder with significant impact on pain, forward head posture, and neck disability. Diaphragmatic breathing has been shown to improve relaxation and reduce musculoskeletal pain, while electroacupuncture has potential benefits in modulating pain pathways. However, the combined effect of these interventions in chronic neck pain remains unexplored. This randomized clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of diaphragmatic breathing and electroacupuncture, in addition to physiotherapy care, compared to simple, focused breathing, electroacupuncture, and physiotherapy care. The primary outcomes are the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) and neck disability index (NDI), while secondary outcome include craniovertebral angle (CVA).

Conditions

  • Chronic Neck Pain

Interventions

OTHER

physiotherapy care, diaphragmatic breathing, and electroacupuncture

* Physiotherapy care: 30 minutes of physiotherapy, including 10 minutes of hot pack, neck isometrics (muscle setting exercises) (10x10) 3 sets for 10 minutes, and stretching exercises for 10 minutes. * Diaphragmatic breathing: 10 min per session in a comfortable supine position or focusing on slow, deep inhalation with diaphragmatic expansion will reduce pain threshold and prepare the patients to receive the electroacupuncture. * Electroacupuncture: Electrical stimulation with acupuncture needles will be applied to the targeted muscle group for 10 minutes per session by a certified practitioner. The targeted muscles will be the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, splenius capitis, and anterior scalene. * Treatment schedule: The session will consist of 30 minutes of physiotherapy care, 10 minutes of diaphragmatic breathing, and 10 minutes of electroacupuncture

OTHER

physiotherapy care, simple focused breathing exercises, and electroacupuncture

* Physiotherapy care: 30 minutes of physiotherapy, including 10 minutes of hot pack, neck isometrics (muscle setting exercises) (10x10) 3 sets for 10 minutes, and stretching exercises for 10 minutes. * Simple focused breathing exercises: 10 minutes per session of simple, focused breathing exercises. * Electroacupuncture: Electrical stimulation with acupuncture needles will be applied to the targeted muscle group for 10 minutes per session by a certified practitioner. The targeted muscles will be the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, splenius capitis, and anterior scalene. * Treatment schedule: The session will consist of 30 minutes of physiotherapy care, 10 minutes of simple focused breathing exercises, and 10 minutes of electroacupuncture.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Lahore

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Sahreen Anwar, PhD · University of Lahore

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
20 Years
Max Age
50 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-11-15
Primary Completion
2026-08-15
Completion
2026-09-15

Countries

  • Pakistan

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07684092 on ClinicalTrials.gov