NCT06852261

Early vs. Late Referral for Scapular Exercises in Shoulder Function After Neck Dissection

Comparison of Early Versus Late Referral for Scapular-Focused Exercise on Shoulder Function in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Following Neck Dissection

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Sponsor: National Taiwan University Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 20 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study aims to investigate the effects of comparing early versus late referrals for scapular-focused exercise on shoulder function in head and neck cancer patients following neck dissection.

Detailed description

This study will recruit 30 head and neck cancer patients with spinal accessory nerve shoulder dysfunction based on the timing of referral, which will be divided into early (within 2 months post-surgery) and late (after 2 months post-surgery) referral groups. Both groups will receive conventional physical therapy (e.g., shoulder joint mobility training, electrical stimulation, or laser therapy for pain relief) and scapular-focused exercises. Scapular-focused exercise primarily targets the trapezius muscle, 60 minutes each session, once a week for 12 weeks.

Conditions

• Rehabilitation

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Scapular-focused exercise	Scapular-focused exercise primarily targets the trapezius muscle, 60 minutes each session, once a week for 12 weeks.
BEHAVIORAL	Scapular-focused exercise	Scapular-focused exercise primarily targets the trapezius muscle, 60 minutes each session, once a week for 12 weeks.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-02-25
• Primary completion: 2025-12-31
• Completion: 2025-12-31
• First posted: 2025-02-28
• Last updated: 2025-03-21

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: Taiwan