Actively Recruiting

Phase Not Applicable
Age: 18Years - 70Years
All Genders
ID07506785

Effect of a Home-Based Exercise Program After Cervical Interlaminar Epidural Steroid Injection on Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Cervical Radiculopathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Led by Necmettin Erbakan University · Updated on 2026-04-02

60

Participants Needed

1

Research Sites

4 weeks

Total Duration

On this page

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

Cervical radiculopathy is a common cause of neck and arm pain caused by compression or inflammation of a cervical nerve root. This trial investigates whether adding a standardized home-based exercise program after a cervical interlaminar epidural steroid injection improves pain, disability, sleep quality, and quality of life in patients with chronic cervical radiculopathy. The study is a randomized controlled trial comparing injection alone versus injection plus exercise. Participants will receive a fluoroscopy-guided cervical interlaminar epidural steroid injection at the C7-T1 space using a paramedian approach. They will be randomly assigned to either receive the injection alone with general advice or the injection followed by an eight-week home-based exercise program. The exercise program includes cervical mobility, isometric strengthening, deep muscle activation, and stretching exercises performed five days a week for 15-20 minutes per session, with initial supervised instruction and printed materials. Participants will be assessed at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12. Measures include the Neck Disability Index as the primary outcome, and pain intensity (Numeric Rating Scale), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), health-related quality of life (EuroQol EQ-5D-5L and EQ-VAS), and analgesic use as secondary outcomes. The study will monitor participants' progress through questionnaires and clinical evaluations over 12 weeks to assess functional recovery and symptom changes.

CONDITIONS

Brief Title

Home-Based Exercise After Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection for Cervical Radiculopathy

Who Can Participate

Age: 18Years - 70Years
All Genders

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible

You may qualify if you...

  • Age between 18 and 70 years
  • Chronic cervical radicular pain lasting 3 months or more with neck and arm pain matching a cervical nerve root
  • Average pain intensity of 4 or higher on the Numeric Rating Scale over the past 7 days
  • Diagnosis of chronic cervical radiculopathy due to cervical disc herniation confirmed by clinical exam and MRI
  • Insufficient response to conservative treatments such as physical therapy, medication, or exercise
  • Ability to provide written informed consent and follow study procedures
Not Eligible

You will not qualify if you...

  • Signs of cervical myelopathy or worsening neurological problems
  • Suspicion of serious spinal conditions like infection or cancer
  • Contraindications to epidural steroid injection including uncontrolled bleeding disorders, unmanaged anticoagulant use, or infections
  • Pregnancy
  • Previous cervical spine surgery or epidural steroid injection within the required washout period
  • Severe musculoskeletal or neurological conditions preventing safe exercise participation
  • Mismatch between symptoms and imaging findings

AI-Screening

AI-Powered Screening

Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility

1
2
3
+1

Your Study Journey

Screening

Duration - 2 to 4 weeks

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Duration - 8 weeks

Participants receive a fluoroscopy-guided cervical interlaminar epidural steroid injection. Those assigned to the exercise group also perform a standardized home-based neck exercise program for 8 weeks following the injection, including cervical mobility, isometric strengthening, muscle activation, and stretching exercises performed five days per week.

Initial supervised instruction visit for exercise plus follow-up assessments at weeks 2, 4, and 8

Follow-up

Duration - 4 weeks

Participants are assessed for clinical outcomes including neck-related disability, pain intensity, sleep quality, and quality of life up to 12 weeks after starting treatment.

Visits at weeks 12 for outcome assessments

Trial Site Locations

Total: 1 location

1

Necmettin Erbakan University

Konya, Turkey, Turkey (Türkiye), 045

Actively Recruiting

Loading map...

Research Team

B

BANU GOKCEN BAYDOGAN TAN, MEDICAL DOCTOR

How is the study designed?

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Masking

SINGLE

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Model

PARALLEL

Primary Purpose

TREATMENT

Number of Arms

2

Similar Trials

Assessment of Upper Extremity Proprioception in Patients Wit...

Cervical Radiculopathy

Actively Recruiting

1 location

Cervical Radiculopathy Imaging Using MR Neurography With Ele...

Cervical Radiculopathy

Actively Recruiting

1 location

Comparison of Unconstrained and Semi-Constrained Artificial ...

Cervical Spondylosis With Myelopathy

Actively Recruiting

1 location

Frequently Asked Questions

Have more questions? Get in touch with our team for quick support

Not the Right Trial for You?

Explore thousands of other clinical trials that might be a better match.
Sign up to get personalized trial recommendations delivered to your inbox.

Already have an account? Log in here

Published Research Related To This Trial

The effectiveness of an aerobic exercise training on patients with neck pain during a short- and long-term follow-up: a prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Amira Daher, Rafael S Carel, Knoll Tzipi...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32183555

Effects of the craniocervical flexion and isometric neck exercise compared in patients with chronic neck pain: A randomized controlled trial.

SinHo Chung, Yeon-Gyu Jeong

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29364754