ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT05501184Updated Aug 15, 2022

SYNCHRONOUS AND ASYNCHRONOUS TELEREHABILITATION METHODS IN PATIENTS WITH CERVICAL DISC HERNIATION

An interventional study of Synchronous Exercise Program and Asynchronous Exercise Program in Cervical Disc Herniation, sponsored by Marmara University. Completed at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-08-15.

Sponsored by Marmara University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 6 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Feb 2022, registered Aug 2022).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
60
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
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Study summary

This was a randomized controlled trial conducted to examine the changes in the pain, physical function, quality of life, and kinesiophobia of participants with non-specific neck pain in Marmara University Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department. This study was approved by the Clinical Studies Ethics Committee of Marmara University Faculty of Health Sciences in January 2022 and was carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The participants were informed about the study and their consent was obtained.

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Conditions studied

  • Cervical Disc Herniation
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In context

Lead sponsor

Marmara University is the lead sponsor of 590 studies on the registry; 135 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Participants between the ages of 18-65,
  • Who had access to the internet and smartphone,
  • Had the ability to conduct video calls were included in the study.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participants were excluded if they had COVID-19,
  • Had surgery in the last 6 months,
  • Received physiotherapy treatment.
  • Had a condition that prevented them from exercising.
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Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
60 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Synchronous Telerehabilitation Group

    The exercise program was applied to groups that include three participants of the synchronous group 3 days per week by video conference method on an online platform (Zoom) with the supervision of a physiotherapist. The time of the group session was organized according to the availability of participants in that group and the physiotherapist using shared calendar availability (Doodle). The physiotherapist sent a reminder to participants one hour prior to each session including the video conference meeting link. Each exercise session lasted approximately 40 minutes. For 8 weeks, a total of 24 exercise sessions were performed. The physiotherapist demonstrated the exercises as needed, supervised the group by giving real-time feedback, and progressed the exercise program according to the needs of each group.

    Other: Synchronous Exercise Program

  • Active comparator
    Asynchronous Telerehabilitation Group

    The exercise program was prescribed and followed up 3 days per week via the mobile application (FizyoTr). A notification was sent to participants' phones via mobile application prior to each session and attendance to the exercise program was recorded. For 8 weeks, a total of 24 exercise sessions were performed. The physiotherapist progressed the exercise program according to the assessment at 4 weeks and the needs of each participant.

    Other: Asynchronous Exercise Program

Interventions

  • OtherSynchronous Exercise Program

    The exercise program consisted of exercises by recommended guidelines for nonspecific neck pain patients which includes various strengthening, stretching, and proprioceptive exercises with progression.

  • OtherAsynchronous Exercise Program

    The exercise program consisted of exercises by recommended guidelines for nonspecific neck pain patients which includes various strengthening, stretching, and proprioceptive exercises with progression.

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)

    Pain intensity was measured with a 0-10 cm scale. Participants were asked to rate their pain as "0: no pain and 10: excruciating pain" on the 0-10 cm scale (10). The pain reported by the patients was recorded in centimeters.

    Time frame: The pain was measured at baseline, mid-treatment in the 4th week, at the end of treatment in the 8th week, and a long-term follow-up assessment in the 16th week.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Neck Disability Index (NDI)

    The participants' level of disability related to neck pain was evaluated using NDI. The NDI consists of 10 questions scored between 0 to 5 to measure disability related to limitation or pain (12). Questions include neck pain intensity, personal care, lifting, reading, headaches, concentration, work, driving, sleep, and leisure activities. The scores range from 0 to 50 with higher scores indicating a more severe disability. The Turkish version of NDI has been shown to be valid and reliable in patients with neck pain

    Time frame: The disability was measured at baseline, mid-treatment in the 4th week, at the end of treatment in the 8th week, and a long-term follow-up assessment in the 16th week.

  2. Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK)

    The TSK is a scale developed by Vlaeyen et al. consisting of 17 questions that assess kinesiophobia. For each question, a 4-point Likert scoring (1 = strongly disagree, 4 = completely agree) is used. After reversing items 4, 8, 12, and 16, a total score is calculated. The total score ranges from 17-68. A higher score indicates a higher level of kinesiophobia. The Turkish version of TSK has been shown to be valid and reliable.

    Time frame: The kinesiophobia was measured at baseline, mid-treatment in the 4th week, at the end of treatment in the 8th week, and a long-term follow-up assessment in the 16th week.

  3. Cervical Mobility

    The range of neck extension, flexion, and right and left lateral flexion were measured using a universal goniometer. For flexion and extension measurement, the participant sat on the side of the physiotherapist. The pivot point of the goniometer was placed at the acromion. The fixed arm of the goniometer was parallel to the ground. The measuring arm followed the midline of the ear. While measuring flexion, the participant was asked to try to touch his/her chin to the chest and for extension, to move his/her face parallel to the ceiling. For lateral flexion, pivot point of the goniometer was placed on the spinal ridge of C7. The fixed arm of the goniometer was kept parallel to the ground. The measuring arm followed the spinal projections of the vertebrae. The participant was asked to move his/her ear towards the shoulder.

    Time frame: The cervical mobility was measured at baseline and at the end of treatment in the 8th week.

  4. Short Form-36 (SF-36)

    The quality of life was assessed using SF-36, which consists of 36 items. The Sf-36 has a total of 8 subscales including physical functioning, limitation due to physical problems (physical role), limitation due to emotional problems (emotional role), vitality, bodily pain, mental health, general health, and social functioning (19). The Turkish version of the SF-36 has been shown to have validity and reliability.

    Time frame: The quality of life was measured at baseline and at the end of treatment in the 8th week.

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Study locations

1 site
  • Marmara University
    Istanbul, 34000, Turkey (Türkiye)
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References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Ran from Feb 2022 to primary completion in Jul 2022, 5 months.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Aug 12, 2022
First posted
Aug 15, 2022
StartActual
Feb 1, 2022
Primary completionActual
Jul 15, 2022
CompletionActual
Aug 11, 2022
Last update
Aug 15, 2022
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 15, 2022, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05501184
Lead sponsor
Marmara University
Responsible party
Eren Timurtas (PhD, Marmara University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Aug 15, 2022
Start date
Feb 1, 2022
Primary completion
Jul 15, 2022
Completion
Aug 11, 2022
Last update
Aug 15, 2022

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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