An interventional study of Exercise program in Neck Disability, sponsored by Giresun University. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-09.
Sponsored by Giresun University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
This non-randomized controlled intervention study aims to evaluate the effects of a six-week structured exercise program integrated into anatomy laboratory sessions on neck pain, neck-related disability, musculoskeletal symptoms, physical performance, and laboratory performance among first- and second-year dental students at Giresun University.
Second-year students will constitute the intervention group, while first-year students will serve as controls and continue their routine educational activities. The intervention consists of five-minute exercise sessions performed twice weekly before anatomy laboratory classes for six weeks. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and at the end of the intervention, with additional assessments of neck pain and disability at week three and six.
Musculoskeletal symptoms, particularly neck-related complaints, are common among dental students and may begin during the early stages of professional training. Prolonged static posture, neck flexion, and ergonomically unfavorable positions during educational and laboratory activities may contribute to the development of these symptoms. Integrating brief preventive exercises into routine educational activities may therefore provide a feasible approach to promoting musculoskeletal health without requiring additional sessions outside the curriculum.
This study is a non-randomized, controlled, pretest-posttest intervention study conducted among first- and second-year dental students at Giresun University. Individual randomization is not feasible because anatomy laboratory sessions are conducted with each academic year attending as a whole group. Therefore, second-year students constitute the intervention group and first-year students constitute the control group.
The intervention consists of a structured six-week exercise program integrated into anatomy laboratory sessions. The program is designed to include brief exercises targeting cervical mobility and strength, posture, and scapular musculature. The control group continues its routine educational activities without receiving the exercise intervention during the study period.
Participants are evaluated before and after the intervention using self-reported and objective measures addressing neck health, musculoskeletal symptoms, and physical performance. Selected neck-related outcomes are also assessed during the intervention period. Laboratory performance and participants' responses to the exercise program are monitored during the study period. The overall aim is to determine whether a brief exercise program that can be incorporated into routine anatomy laboratory education has beneficial effects on neck health and related functional and physical outcomes in dental students.
Giresun University is the lead sponsor of 57 studies on the registry; 6 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
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You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Intervention arm: Second-year dental students will participate in a six-week structured exercise program integrated into anatomy laboratory sessions.
Behavioral: Exercise program
First-year dental students will continue their routine anatomy laboratory education without receiving the exercise intervention.
The intervention consists of a six-week structured exercise program performed twice weekly before anatomy laboratory sessions. Each session lasts approximately five minutes and includes breathing exercises, cervical mobility exercises, isometric cervical strengthening, postural exercises, and scapular strengthening. The first two weeks are supervised by a researcher, followed by video-guided sessions for the remaining four weeks. No exercise equipment is required.
neck disability index
Neck-related disability will be assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), a 10-item self-reported questionnaire. Each item is scored from 0 to 5, resulting in a total score ranging from 0 to 50. Higher scores indicate greater neck-related disability.
Time frame: Baseline, week 3, and week 6
Change in Cervical and Shoulder Muscle Strength
Muscle strength will be assessed isometrically using a handheld dynamometer. Cervical flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and shoulder external rotation strength will be measured in the sitting position. Each measurement will be performed three times, with at least 30 seconds of rest between measurements, and the highest value will be recorded. Higher values indicate greater muscle strength.
Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
No study locations are listed for this record.
Plan to share: No — Individual participant data will not be shared.
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Start is estimated for Oct 2026; primary completion for Nov 2026, 1 month later.
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From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Giresun University