Clinical trial · Interventional
Assessing the Implementation of Myofascial Techniques in Patients With Accessory Nerve Damage After Oncologic Treatment
Assessing the Implementation of Myofascial Techniques in Patients With Symptoms of Accessory Nerve Damage After Oncologic Treatment in the Head and Neck Regions
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
The majority of head and neck cancers develop locally and regionally. Therefore, to reduce the risk of metastasis, 90% of surgeries performed in the head and neck area include the removal of regional lymph nodes and delivery of radiotherapy. As a consequence of radical surgery affecting the lymphatic system in the neck area, there exists a risk of damage to the cervical plexus branch (C1-C4) or the accessory nerve. Patients with damage to this nerve develop disability involving limitations to the head flexion, extension, and rotation, asymmetric shoulder blades, disturbed shoulder joint abduction, flexion, and external rotation (supination). Additionally, patients often suffer from pain, numbness, swelling, and body asymmetry. Subject literature does not describe in a detailed and comprehensive way the physiotherapeutic procedures to be applied in case of a damaged accessory nerve as a complication after cancer treatment. Unfortunately, it is often related to patients' limited access to an effective therapy. Available information on the rehabilitation procedures is limited and it mostly focuses on exercise recommendations. An analysis of the subject literature does not show any information on the efficiency of applying the myofascial techniques for treating deficiencies related to the damage of the accessory nerve. In the current project the investigators plan to assess the effectiveness of a physical therapy intervention comprising myofascial techniques as compared to a set of exercises designed for performing individually in head and neck cancer patients with accessory nerve damage after surgical head and neck cancer treatment. The primary outcome will be physiotherapeutic procedures to be applied in case of a damaged accessory nerve as a complication after cancer treatment. The secondary outcomes will include the efficiency of applying the myofascial techniques for treating deficiencies related to the damage of the accessory nerve.
Conditions
Conditions (2)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accessory Nerve Injuries | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| Physical Therapy | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
Interventions
Interventions (2)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical activity | Other | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Physical therapy - myofascial techniques | Other | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (2)
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- Physical activity under supervision
- description
- The subjects receive physical therapy three times a week for 45 minutes, during a six-week period under professional supervision.
- interventionNames
- Other: Physical therapy - myofascial techniques
- type
- ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
- label
- Home exercise
- description
- The subjects receive a set of exercises and a recommendation to perform them at least three times a week for 45 minutes. To ensure compliance the subjects receive journals to record the performed exercises. Additionally subjects are contacted by phone to motivate them to exercise with adequate intensity. Furthermore the proper exercise technique is verified at periodic control visits.
- interventionNames
- Other: Physical activity
Primary outcomes (4)
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: * patients treated surgically for head and neck cancer with one-sided lymphadenectomy in the head and neck region, * symptoms of damage to the accessory nerve, * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scale 0-2, Exclusion Criteria: * local recurrence, * distant metastases, * cardiorespiratory failure, * pain symptoms exceeding patients adaptability, * decline of the patient's level of functioning to 3-4 in ECOG scale.
References
Publications (15)
- BACKGROUNDBhattacharyya N. The increasing workload in head and neck surgery: An epidemiologic analysis. Laryngoscope. 2011 Jan;121(1):111-5. doi: 10.1002/lary.21193. PMID 21154824
- BACKGROUNDPopovski V, Benedetti A, Popovic-Monevska D, Grcev A, Stamatoski A, Zhivadinovik J. Spinal accessory nerve preservation in modified neck dissections: surgical and functional outcomes. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2017 Oct;37(5):368-374. doi: 10.14639/0392-100X-844. PMID 29165431
- BACKGROUNDMarszałek W.S., Majchrzycki M., Golusiński W.: Dysfunctions of the locomotor system. Physiotherapy in head and neck cancer. Poznan: Poznan University of Medical Sciences Publishing House, 2012, ISBN: 978-83-7597-161-3
- BACKGROUNDGuru K, Manoor UK, Supe SS. A comprehensive review of head and neck cancer rehabilitation: physical therapy perspectives. Indian J Palliat Care. 2012 May;18(2):87-97. doi: 10.4103/0973-1075.100820. PMID 23093823
- BACKGROUNDGoldstein DP, Ringash J, Bissada E, Jaquet Y, Irish J, Chepeha D, Davis AM. Scoping review of the literature on shoulder impairments and disability after neck dissection. Head Neck. 2014 Feb;36(2):299-308. doi: 10.1002/hed.23243. Epub 2013 Apr 1. PMID 23554002
- BACKGROUNDDijkstra PU, van Wilgen PC, Buijs RP, Brendeke W, de Goede CJ, Kerst A, Koolstra M, Marinus J, Schoppink EM, Stuiver MM, van de Velde CF, Roodenburg JL. Incidence of shoulder pain after neck dissection: a clinical explorative study for risk factors. Head Neck. 2001 Nov;23(11):947-53. doi: 10.1002/hed.1137. PMID 11754498
- BACKGROUNDKoybasioglu A, Bora Tokcaer A, Inal E, Uslu S, Kocak T, Ural A. Accessory nerve function in lateral selective neck dissection with undissected level IIb. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec. 2006;68(2):88-92. doi: 10.1159/000091209. Epub 2006 Jan 27. PMID 16446553