Laser or stretching: which eases stubborn neck pain best?
NCT ID NCT07566637
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested two treatments for long-term neck pain: low-intensity laser therapy (a light-based pain treatment) and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (a type of stretching and strengthening exercise). 75 adults with chronic non-specific neck pain were randomly assigned to one of these treatments plus standard physiotherapy, or standard physiotherapy alone. The goal was to see which approach better reduced pain and disability.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Low-intensity laser therapy and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (stretching/strengthening exercises)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward effective non-drug options for managing chronic neck pain and improving daily function.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed trial with 75 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The treatments are compared to standard physiotherapy, not a placebo, so benefits may be modest.
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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75 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Feb 2024
- Finished
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Mar 2026
- 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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18 to 65 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.
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: * Volunteering to participate in the study * A neck pain score of at least 3 on the Numerical Pain Scale in the assessment conducted prior to inclusion in the study * A Neck Disability Index score of 5 or higher * No comorbid conditions affecting the orthopaedic, neurological or cardiopulmonary systems * Participants who have not been enrolled in another clinical trial within the last month Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals who have undergone upper limb surgery (e.g. shoulder blade, shoulder, elbow, hand, wrist, etc.) within the last year * Individuals with a pacemaker or subcutaneous implant * Pregnant women or women who have recently given birth * Use of antidepressants, anti-inflammatory drugs or anxiolytics within the last 6 months
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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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Istanbul Gedik University
Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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