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RecruitingNCT07578831Updated May 11, 2026

Comparative Effects of Kendall and Feldenkrais Exercise in Upper Crossed Syndrome

An interventional study of Kendall Exercise Method (KM) and Feldenkrais Exercise Method (FM) in Upper Crossed Syndrome, sponsored by Riphah International University. Recruiting at 1 site in Pakistan. Open to participants aged 20 Years to 50 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-11.

Sponsored by Riphah International University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was expected by May 2026, 5 months ago, but the record still lists the study as recruiting.
  • Registered 3 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Jan 2026, registered May 2026).
  • Started Jan 2026; still recruiting 9 months later.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
72
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
20 Years to 50 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Upper Cross Syndrome (UCS) is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder characterized by muscular imbalances and postural dysfunction. Kendall Method and Feldenkrais Method are physiotherapy exercise programs aimed at reducing pain and improving cervical position sense, CV angle and function. This study compares their effects on pain, CV angle, cervical position sense, and disability in individuals with upper cross syndrome. This will be a randomized Controlled trial conducted on 72 participants. Data will be collected from Sikander Medical Complex, Gujranwala by using non-probability convenience sampling technique. Adults aged 20 to 50 years with upper cross syndrome, confirmed by Craniovertebral Angle less than 50 degrees and experiencing symptoms for more than four weeks, will be included in this study. Individuals with cervical spondylosis, spondylolisthesis, disc prolapse, trauma-related cervical injuries, or a history of shoulder surgery will be excluded. Group A will receive Kendall Method along with conservative physiotherapy, while Group B will receive Feldenkrais Method combined with conservative physiotherapy. Each session will last 30 minutes-40 minutes for the primary intervention and 15-20 minutes for conventional therapy-administered three times per week for five weeks. Pre- and post-treatment evaluations will include the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), CV angle (measured via Image J), Cervical position Sense (assessed via HRE) and functional disability (measured via NDI). Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 27.0.

02

Conditions studied

  • Upper Crossed Syndrome

Keywords

  • Postural Disorders
  • Neck pain
  • Muscle weakness
03

In context

Neck Pain

1,360 studies on the registry are indexed under Neck Pain; 299 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 72 is above the median of 50 across 1,116 interventional studies indexed under Neck Pain.

Browse Neck Pain studies →

Lead sponsor

Riphah International University is the lead sponsor of 2,193 studies on the registry; 650 are open to participants now.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
20 Years to 50 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

  • Male subjects between 20-50 years
  • Female subjects between 20-50 years
  • Cranio-vertebral angle less than 50 degrees
  • Subjects who had been experiencing neck pain for more than 3 months
  • Slouched sitting for more than four hours per day
  • Usage of handheld devices while reading, working, and travelling
  • Pain intensity score between 4 to 10 on NPRS
  • NDI>10 scores between 10 and 34
  • Tight pectoralis major muscle

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Surgeries of the cervical spine within past 1 year
  • Surgeries or fracture to the shoulder joint
  • Cervical instability
  • Cervical Radiculopathy
  • Neurological disorders such as cervical spondylosis, spondylolisthesis, disc prolapse and rheumatic disease
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Participant)
Enrollment
72 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Kendall Exercise Method (KM)

    Other: Kendall Exercise Method (KM)

  • Active comparator
    Feldenkrais Exercise Method (FM)

    Other: Feldenkrais Exercise Method (FM)

Interventions

  • OtherKendall Exercise Method (KM)

    Strengthening of deep cervical flexors Procedure: Positioning supine with the chin tucked in and lifting the head for 2 to 8 s. Stretching of cervical extensors Procedure: Maintaining a sitting posture, with hands on the occipital region, and flexed spine while moving head downwards to stretch cervical extensors. Strengthening of retractors Procedure: Maintaining an upright posture, keep the resistance band circling with strong support and stretching it with the upper limbs of both sides so that there is full retraction of the scapula

  • OtherFeldenkrais Exercise Method (FM)

    Shoulder 1 minute (2) Relaxation (2) Lift and lower one shoulder slowly Key Focus Focus on small range of motion and awareness Neck Rolls head from one side to the other gently 1 minute Reduce tension, no strain, smooth motion Ear-to-Shoulder (Static) Lower ear to shoulder, return to center 1 minute Observe full-body involvement Ear-to-Shoulder with Shoulder Lift Alternate ear-to-shoulder and shoulder-to-ear 1 minute Gentle coordination of \]head and shoulder Upper Body Rotation (Step 1) Sit forward on chair; rotate upper body right slightly 6-10 Reps Relaxed turning, observe visual range Eyes Fixed with Body Rotation Fix eyes forward, turn upper body right 6-10 Reps Notice effect of eye fixation on motion

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Neck pain and diability index

    The NDI is used to measure functional impairment and pain because to its high reliability and validity. A higher NDI score indicates a more severe impairment; the ten parts of the NDI are rated from zero to fifty. With a maximum score of 50, each item may be assessed on a scale from 0 (no disability) to 5 (total impairment). The maximum possible score for each part is 5. If the first statement is marked as true, the section score is 0, and if the final statement is recorded as true, the score is 5. No neck impairment is considered to exist with a score of 0 4, mild disability from 5-14, moderate disability from 15-24, severe disability from 25-34, and full disability from scores over 34(11). The Neck Disability Index exhibited excellent reliability (ICC = 0.92; \[95 % CI: 0.46-0.97\]).(27)

    Time frame: 6th week

  2. Head Repositioning Error Test

    The Arc tangent of the distance between the reference and target points divided by the distance between reference point and the laser pointer was considered as HRE.This method was first described by Revel et al. Each participant performed three trials. The average amount of three HRE was used for data analysis. No discomfort or complication was reported by participants after HRE test. The CVA and HRE were measured by two different physiotherapists.(29)

    Time frame: 6th week

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on May 11, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07578831
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
May 11, 2026
Start date
Jan 15, 2026
Primary completion
May 15, 2026 (estimated)
Completion
Jun 15, 2026 (estimated)
Last update
May 11, 2026

Study contacts

Rabiya Noor, phd
Contact
Rabiya.Noor@riphah.edu.pk
03344355660
Iqbal Tariq, phd
Contact
Iqbal.tariq@riphah.edu.pk
03338236752
Aiman Hameed, MSPT(CP)
principal investigator · Riphah International University

Oversight

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

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