Influence of Fun Physical Activities on Neck Pain and Posture in Children
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: fun game activities, neck isometrics.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Neck Pain, Posture Disorders in Children. Basic parameters: up to 15 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Pakistan
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Effects of Fun Games Activities on Neck Pain and Posture Among School Going Children
Overview
Neck pain is becoming increasingly common in school-aged children, mainly due to prolonged use of electronic devices and poor posture (especially forward head posture), often referred to as "text neck syndrome." Other contributing factors include sedentary lifestyles, heavy school bags, and rapid growth during adolescence. While this issue has been widely studied in adults and teenagers, research focusing on younger children is limited. This study aims to evaluate the effects of fun-game activities, cervical stretching exercises, and postural education in reducing neck pain and improving posture among school-going children.
Detailed description
This study will utilize a controlled trial design. Data collection will take place at two educational institutions in Sialkot: The Spirit School and the Concept School System, located on Paris Road .It will be conducted over duration of eight weeks. A total of fourteen school-going teenagers with forward neck posture and neck pain will be selected. Participants will be randomly divided into two groups. Group A, the intervention group, will receive a structured cervical stretching and posture education program titled "fun-game activities" for eight weeks, with sessions conducted three days per week, each lasting 30 minutes. The exercise program will include a combination of warm-up activities, neck-specific and postural strengthening exercises (such as chin tucks, wall angels, tree pose, plank on knees, and balloon reach), and engaging cool-down or game-based tasks to maintain student motivation. Exercises will progress in complexity every two weeks to enhance cervical mobility and postural control. Group B will serve as the control group and will continue with baseline and their routine daily activities. Non-probability convenient sampling will be followed. The inclusion criteria for participation include teenagers of either gender with forward neck posture and associated neck pain. Exclusion criteria such as scoliosis, pain resulting from injuries like fractures, or having had undergone any surgical procedures. Data will be collected using three validated tools: a goniometer to measure cervical range of motion (flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral bending), the Neck Disability Index (NDI) to assess functional limitations due to neck pain, and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to evaluate pain intensity.
Interventions
- Other fun game activities
The study will run for 10 months, with sessions 3 times per week (30 minutes each). Group A will follow an 8-week fun, structured program including warm-ups, posture exercises (e.g., chin tucks, wall angels, plank), and interactive games and breathing activities, progressing every two weeks. - Other neck isometrics
Group B will perform isometric neck exercises and continue normal school activities without additional structured training. The program aims to improve posture and reduce neck pain in children
Primary outcome measures
- Goniometer [Time frame: 3rd Day]
Secondary outcome measures (1)
- NDI Questionnaire [Time frame: 3rd Day]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Student with Forward neck posture with angle 48 ° measured with kinovea software.
- Teenagers (School going age ≤ 15 yrs)
- Both gender
- Children with neck pain
Exclusion criteria
- Children with scoliosis
- Pain due to frank injuries (like fractures)
- Patients having had any recent surgical procedure would not be enrolled in this study.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Other
Study locations
Pakistan · 1 center
- The Spirit School — Sialkot
Publications
- David D, Giannini C, Chiarelli F, Mohn A. Text Neck Syndrome in Children and Adolescents. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Feb 7;18(4):1565. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18041565. PMID 33562204
- Brattberg G. Do pain problems in young school children persist into early adulthood? A 13-year follow-up. Eur J Pain. 2004 Jun;8(3):187-99. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpain.2003.08.001. PMID 15109969
- Hestbaek L, Leboeuf-Yde C, Kyvik KO, Manniche C. The course of low back pain from adolescence to adulthood: eight-year follow-up of 9600 twins. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2006 Feb 15;31(4):468-72. doi: 10.1097/01.brs.0000199958.04073.d9. PMID 16481960
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07578766 · Armeeza Naseer