Neck pain relief: which exercise works better for 'Text Neck'?
NCT ID NCT07317999
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested two exercise programs—scapular retraction exercises and the McKenzie method—in 116 university students with forward head posture. Over eight weeks, participants did 20-minute sessions three times a week. The goal was to see which approach better improved neck alignment, reduced pain, and lessened disability.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- scapular retraction exercises and McKenzie method exercises
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a simple, non-drug exercise program to improve posture and reduce neck pain in young adults.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed study with no blinding, so results may not apply to other groups. Exercise adherence and individual differences could affect outcomes.
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.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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116 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2024
- Finished
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Feb 2025
- 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.
- Ages
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17 to 23 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * University students with FHP * Able to participate in exercise programs * Free from severe musculoskeletal disorders or recent injuries Exclusion Criteria: * Students with contraindication to exercise, * Individuals with neurological conditions affecting posture
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Faculty of Nursing
Al Mansurah, Egypt
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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