| CTRI Number |
CTRI/2026/02/104667 [Registered on: 24/02/2026] Trial Registered Prospectively |
| Last Modified On: |
22/02/2026 |
| Post Graduate Thesis |
Yes |
| Type of Trial |
Interventional |
|
Type of Study
|
Physiotherapy (Not Including YOGA) |
| Study Design |
Randomized, Parallel Group, Placebo Controlled Trial |
|
Public Title of Study
|
Effect Of First Rib Mobilization Combined With Scapular Stabilization Exercises In Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain |
|
Scientific Title of Study
|
Effect Of First Rib Mobilization Combined With Scapular Stabilization Exercises On Pain, Range And Disability In Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial |
| Trial Acronym |
NIL |
|
Secondary IDs if Any
|
| Secondary ID |
Identifier |
| NIL |
NIL |
|
|
Details of Principal Investigator or overall Trial Coordinator (multi-center study)
|
| Name |
Priyanka R Murkumbi |
| Designation |
Postgraduate student (OMT) |
| Affiliation |
KLE institute of Physiotherapy Belgavi |
| Address |
KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and MRC, Advanced
Physiotherapy Centre Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Department
Room Nagar, Belagavi, Karnataka-590010 Belgaum KARNATAKA
590010 India
Belgaum KARNATAKA 590010 India |
| Phone |
09449242854 |
| Fax |
|
| Email |
priyankarmdhr@gmail.com |
|
Details of Contact Person Scientific Query
|
| Name |
Dr Anand Hegganavar |
| Designation |
Professor and Head of Department, Orthopaedic Manual Therapy |
| Affiliation |
KLE institute of Physiotherapy Belgavi |
| Address |
KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and MRC, Advanced
Physiotherapy Centre Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Department
Room Nagar, Belagavi, Karnataka-590010 Belgaum KARNATAKA
590010 India
Belgaum KARNATAKA 590010 India |
| Phone |
9945282896 |
| Fax |
|
| Email |
anandheggannavar@klekipt.edu.in |
|
Details of Contact Person Public Query
|
| Name |
Dr Anand Hegganavar |
| Designation |
Professor and Head of Department, Orthopaedic Manual Therapy |
| Affiliation |
KLE institute of Physiotherapy Belgavi |
| Address |
KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and MRC, Advanced
Physiotherapy Centre Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Department
Room Nagar, Belagavi, Karnataka-590010 Belgaum KARNATAKA
590010 India
Belgaum KARNATAKA 590010 India |
| Phone |
9945282896 |
| Fax |
|
| Email |
anandheggannavar@klekipt.edu.in |
|
|
Source of Monetary or Material Support
|
|
|
Primary Sponsor
|
| Name |
Priyanka R Murkumbi |
| Address |
KAHER Institute of Physiotherapy, Belagavi, Karnataka, India 590010 |
| Type of Sponsor |
Other [self] |
|
|
Details of Secondary Sponsor
|
|
|
Countries of Recruitment
|
India |
|
Sites of Study
|
| No of Sites = 1 |
| Name of Principal
Investigator |
Name of Site |
Site Address |
Phone/Fax/Email |
| DrAnand Heggannavar |
Priyanka R Murkumbi |
KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and MRC, Advanced
Physiotherapy Centre Orthopaedic manualtherapy Department
Room number. 13 Nehru Nagar, Belagavi, Karnataka-590010
Belgaum KARNATAKA |
09449242854
priyankarmdhr@gmail.com |
|
|
Details of Ethics Committee
|
| No of Ethics Committees= 1 |
| Name of Committee |
Approval Status |
| Research and Ethical Committe, KLEU Institute of Physiotherapy, Belagavi |
Approved |
|
|
Regulatory Clearance Status from DCGI
|
|
|
Health Condition / Problems Studied
|
| Health Type |
Condition |
| Healthy Human Volunteers |
Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain |
|
|
Intervention / Comparator Agent
|
| Type |
Name |
Details |
| Comparator Agent |
Conventional Physiotherapy With Sham First Rib Technique |
Participants will receive conventional physiotherapy including moist hot pack therapy for ten minutes, interferential therapy with four electrodes placed over the cervical and upper trapezius region for fifteen minutes, neck isometric exercises, cervical range of motion exercises and upper trapezius and levator scapulae stretching. A sham first rib mobilization technique will be applied without therapeutic oscillatory pressure. The intervention will be given four sessions per week for three weeks. |
| Intervention |
First Rib Mobilization Combined With Scapular Stabilization Exercises |
Participants will receive first rib mobilization using postero anterior and caudal directed oscillatory technique along the plane of the rib combined with scapular stabilization exercises including scapular retraction, depression and protraction using resistance bands, prone Y T W exercises for lower trapezius strengthening and serratus anterior activation using wall push ups plus. Conventional physiotherapy including moist hot pack therapy, interferential therapy, neck isometric exercises, cervical range of motion exercises and stretching will also be given. The intervention will be provided four sessions per week for three weeks. |
|
|
Inclusion Criteria
|
| Age From |
20.00 Year(s) |
| Age To |
45.00 Year(s) |
| Gender |
Both |
| Details |
Willingness to participate and provide informed consent.
All genders are included.
Between age of 20–45 years.
Non-specific chronic neck pain lasting more than or equal to 3 months.
Pain intensity more than or equal to 3 on Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). |
|
| ExclusionCriteria |
| Details |
History of cervical trauma, fracture or surgery.
Any congenital anomalies of cervical spine like cervical rib, fusion of spine.
Cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy.
Shoulder related pathology.
Systemic or inflammatory disorders.
Neurological or vestibular dysfunctions.
Neck related structural deformity. |
|
|
Method of Generating Random Sequence
|
Computer generated randomization |
|
Method of Concealment
|
Sequentially numbered, sealed, opaque envelopes |
|
Blinding/Masking
|
Outcome Assessor Blinded |
|
Primary Outcome
|
| Outcome |
TimePoints |
| Pain intensity measured using Numerical Pain Rating Scale. |
Pre assessment and post assessment of outcome measures will be done immediately post intervention (3 weeks) |
|
|
Secondary Outcome
|
| Outcome |
TimePoints |
| Cervical range of motion measured using Dual Inclinometer. |
Pre assessment & post assessment of outcome measures will be done immediately post intervention (3 weeks) |
| Functional disability measured using Neck Disability Index. |
Pre assessment & post assessment of outcome measures will be done immediately post intervention (3 weeks) |
|
|
Target Sample Size
|
Total Sample Size="38" Sample Size from India="38"
Final Enrollment numbers achieved (Total)= "Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials"
Final Enrollment numbers achieved (India)="Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials" |
|
Phase of Trial
|
N/A |
|
Date of First Enrollment (India)
|
06/03/2026 |
| Date of Study Completion (India) |
Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials |
| Date of First Enrollment (Global) |
Date Missing |
| Date of Study Completion (Global) |
Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials |
|
Estimated Duration of Trial
|
Years="1" Months="0" Days="0" |
|
Recruitment Status of Trial (Global)
|
Not Applicable |
| Recruitment Status of Trial (India) |
Not Yet Recruiting |
|
Publication Details
|
N/A |
|
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement
|
Will individual participant data (IPD) be shared publicly (including data dictionaries)?
Response - NO
|
|
Brief Summary
|
This study aims to evaluate the effect of first rib mobilization combined with scapular stabilization exercises on pain intensity, cervical range of motion and functional disability in individuals with non specific chronic neck pain. Chronic neck pain is commonly associated with altered cervicothoracic biomechanics, first rib dysfunction and scapular muscle imbalance. Although first rib mobilization and scapular stabilization exercises have shown individual benefits, the combined effect of these interventions has not been adequately explored. In this randomized parallel group placebo controlled trial, thirty eight participants aged twenty to forty five years with non specific chronic neck pain lasting three months or more will be randomly allocated into two groups. The control group will receive conventional physiotherapy with sham first rib mobilization. The experimental group will receive first rib mobilization combined with scapular stabilization exercises along with conventional physiotherapy. The intervention will be provided four sessions per week for three weeks. Primary outcome will be pain intensity measured using Numerical Pain Rating Scale. Secondary outcomes will include cervical range of motion measured using Dual Inclinometer and functional disability measured using Neck Disability Index. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and after completion of three weeks of intervention. The findings of this study may help establish an effective biomechanically oriented physiotherapy approach for managing chronic neck pain. |