The Cervical "STRETCH" Study

Conditions

• Cervical Spine

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Accepted

Interventions

• Guided Cervical Stretching Regimen — BEHAVIORAL
  Participants will perform a standardized 5-minute guided cervical stretching routine once daily for 7 days. The instruction will be delivered via an in-person tutorial on the first day, followed by a pre-recorded instructional video that participants will follow each of the following 6 days. The stretching routine will target cervical flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation movements.

Study Details

Neck pain and reduced cervical range of motion (ROM) are common musculoskeletal concerns that can significantly impact an individual's quality of life and daily routine. This is especially true for medical students who spend a disproportionate amount of time on their computers or mobile devices, as is required by their long study hours. A simple stretching routine is often recommended by physicians and physical therapists alike, but there is little research examining short-term changes in cervical range of motion (ROM) and pain when a brief, structured daily stretching program is used. The goal of this single-group study is to test feasibility and determine how well a daily cervical stretching regimen affects cervical ROM and self-reported pain in osteopathic medical students with cervical ROM restrictions. Researchers will measure changes in cervical ROM using a goniometer and changes in pain levels via the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Participants will be asked to complete a 7-day period of no stretching, during which natural measurements will be taken, followed by 7 days of completing the 5-minute stretching routine, after which more measurements will be taken. Participants will also be asked to complete a post-study survey and a 1-month follow-up survey to provide feedback on the study and the stretching routine.

Key Dates

Start date

Mar 10, 2026

Status verified

Feb 2026

Primary completion

Jun 1, 2026

Completion

Aug 30, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment

75 participants (estimated)

Allocation

NA

Intervention model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Arms

• Experimental: Guided Cervical Stretching Regimen
  Participants will complete a 5-minute guided cervical stretching routine and will be given a video to follow for 7 consecutive days (Days 8-14), following a 7-day baseline observation period without intervention.

Primary Outcome Measure

Changes in Cervical Range of Motion (ROM) [ Time Frame: Baseline to Day 7 pre-stretch, to Day 7 post-stretch, to Day 14. ]

Central Contacts

• Krista Lund, DO
  909-469-8384
  [email protected]
• Eric S Martinez, BS
  909-469-5224
  [email protected]

Locations (1)

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