Could neck pain weaken breathing muscles? ultrasound study investigates
NCT ID NCT07782099
First seen Aug 24, 2026 · Last updated Aug 25, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study uses ultrasound to examine the size and function of breathing-related muscles—like the diaphragm and neck muscles—in people with chronic non-specific neck pain, comparing them to healthy individuals. The goal is to see if these muscles differ and whether they relate to breathing strength and lung function. By understanding these connections, the study may help improve how neck pain is assessed and treated.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Ultrasonography (diagnostic imaging) of diaphragm, anterior scalene, upper trapezius, and sternocleidomastoid muscles
- What this could lead to
- If this study finds clear differences in breathing muscles, it could lead to better assessment and treatment strategies for chronic neck pain, potentially improving respiratory function.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early observational study with only 10 participants, so findings may not apply broadly. It does not test any treatment, so it cannot prove cause and effect.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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About 10 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jun 2026
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
The study population will consist of adults aged 18 to 65 years. The case group will include individuals with chronic non-specific neck pain lasting at least 3 months, while the control group will consist of age-matched healthy volunteers without neck pain during the previous 3 months. Participants will be recruited from the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation outpatient clinic and the surrounding community.
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain Group: * Age between 18 and 65 years * Presence of chronic non-specific neck pain for at least 3 months * Non-traumatic origin of neck pain * Pain intensity ≥ 3 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) or Visual Analog Scale (VAS) * Neck Disability Index (NDI) score ≥ 15 * Willingness to participate and provide informed consent Healthy Control Group: * Age between 18 and 65 years * No neck pain during the previous 3 months * Not receiving any treatment related to the cervical region * Willingness to participate and provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria (Both Groups): * History of whiplash injury or cervical trauma * Previous cervical spine surgery * Cervical radiculopathy or neurological deficits * Chronic respiratory diseases (e.g., COPD, asthma) * Active respiratory tract infection * Thoracic or abdominal surgery within the previous 6 months * Rheumatologic, neuromuscular, or systemic inflammatory disorders * Pregnancy * Physiotherapy treatment for neck pain within the previous 3 months * Regular respiratory muscle training or breathing exercises within the previous 3 months * Inability to comply with study procedures or assessments
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Derince Training and Research Hospital
RECRUITINGKocaeli, Derince, 41000, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Can a physical exam tell a headache from neck pain?
- Can a nerve-zapping ear device supercharge exercise for neck pain?
- Can a gentle Hands-On technique unlock stiff necks?
- Could a diaphragm massage ease stubborn neck pain?
- Brain waves may hold key to neck pain relief