Effects of Online Exercise Intervention on Physical and Mental Conditions in Young Adults With Chronic Neck Pain
Condition: Chronic Non-specific Neck Pain
MeSH terms: Neck Pain
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This study aimed to compare the efficacy of online exercise therapy with conventional
      exercise therapy on pain, function, psychological status and work efficiency of young adults
      with chronic neck pain. A randomized clinical trial recruiting 39 university students with
      self-reported chronic neck pain was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned into the
      experimental group receiving online exercise therapy and the active control group receiving
      conventional exercise therapy. Participants in both groups completed the same exercise
      program 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks, with either face-to-face or online mode of delivery
      by physiotherapists. The pain level was assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS) based on
      average and at maximum intensity. Neck function and work limitations were assessed by the
      Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ) respectively. The
      Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and its subscales (HADS-A and HADS-D) were used
      to evaluate the overall symptoms, levels of anxiety and depression respectively. Participants
      were assessed at baseline and at 6 weeks while the changes in WLQ were assessed biweekly.

      It is hypothesized that, young adults with chronic neck pain, both the online and
      conventional exercise interventions could improve their pain level, neck disability, anxiety
      state and work efficiency, and the online exercise intervention appeared feasible as an
      alternative treatment option for them.
    

Detailed description: 
      Study Title： Effects of Online Exercise Intervention on Physical and Mental Conditions in
      Young Adults with Chronic Neck Pain Study Population： The target participants were adults
      with self-reported non-specific neck pain for more than three months. They were recruited
      through posters and social media in the campus of the Beijing Sport University.

      Study Design： The present study was an assessor blinded randomized controlled trial conducted
      according to the Declaration of Helsinki (World Medical Association, 2013). The Institutional
      Review Board of the Beijing Sport University approved the study (reference number: 2023006H).
      A randomized clinical trial recruiting 39 university students with self-reported chronic neck
      pain was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned into the experimental group receiving
      online exercise therapy and the active control group receiving conventional exercise therapy.
      Participants in both groups completed the same exercise program 3 sessions per week for 6
      weeks, with either face-to-face or online mode of delivery by physiotherapists.

      Sample Size Assessment： The sample size for the study was calculated to be 32 using the
      G*Power 3.1.9.2 (University Kiel, Germany), with an estimated effect size of group difference
      of 0.9 in primary outcomes and a level of significance of 0.05, statistical power of 80% with
      2-tailed independent sample t test. With an anticipated dropout rate of 15%, a total of 39
      participants was required.

      Study Duration： Totally 8 weeks, including 1-week baseline testing, 6-week intervention and
      1-week post intervention testing.

      Study Intervention Description： Participants in both groups completed the same exercise
      program three times a week for six weeks with either face-to-face or online mode of delivery
      by physiotherapists.

      Primary Objective： The primary objective is to study the effectiveness of online and
      conventional exercise therapy on pain level and function in adults with chronic neck pain.
      There were three primary outcomes, including average and maximum neck pain using visual
      analog scale (VAS), and Neck Disability Index (NDI).

      Secondary Objectives： The secondary objectives are investigating the effectiveness of online
      and conventional exercise therapy on mental condition and working efficacy in adults with
      chronic neck pain. There were two secondary outcomes: anxiety and depression measured with
      the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and work efficiency assessed with the Work
      Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ).

      Statistical analysis: Continuous data were expressed as means and standard deviations.
      Categorical data were shown as frequencies or percentages, with group comparisons performed
      using the Fisher exact test. The normality of continuous data was checked with the
      Shapiro-Wilk test. The change scores of the primary and secondary outcome variables from
      baseline to end of intervention between the 2 groups were compared using independent sample t
      test with approximate data normality. The Cohen's effect sizes of between-group comparisons
      were calculated. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for group comparison of non-normal
      continuous data. Within-group comparisons were done using paired sample t test.
    

Intervention name(s): Exercise Therapy
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Exercise therapy is considered as the integral component of interventions for chronic non-specific neck pain. It includes different type resistance training, range of motion exercises and stretching exercises to improve neck condition and release symptoms.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: Randomized clinical trial with 39 adults with self-reported chronic neck pain recruited. They were randomly assigned into two groups. The experimental group received online exercise therapy and the control group received conventional exercise therapy.
Participants in both groups completed the same exercise program three times a week for six weeks. Visual analogue scale (VAS), the Neck Disability Index (NDI), Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ) and The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and its subscales were evaluated. Participants were assessed at baseline and at 6 weeks while the changes in WLQ were assessed biweekly. To ensure the effectiveness of online exercise therapy, therapists delivered the online exercise 3 times a week for 6 weeks, with videoconferencing once a week and posting of exercise record on social media twice a week.
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: chronic neck pain; non-specific neck pain