Does Adding Electrical Muscle Stimulation to Exercise Reduce Neck Pain More Effectively? A 2025 Peer-Reviewed Study from European Universities Explores This

person Savannah Martin
calendar_today Jan 11, 2026
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This article is part of the ORIEMS FIT Research Digest series. In this series, we share real scientific research from respected universities and journals around the world.

We explain research in plain, everyday language, so anyone — whether you are 14 or 70 years old — can understand it.

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If you ever don’t like our explanation, you can skip it and go straight to the original source.

What Is This Research About? (Simple Explanation)

This study looked at people with long-lasting neck pain.

The researchers asked one main question:

Does adding neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES - A niche of EMS) to exercise improve neck pain more than exercise alone?

NMES is a form of electrical muscle stimulation that helps muscles contract more strongly during movement.

Who Did This Research and When?

Year published: 2025
Journal: Sport Sciences for Health (Springer Nature)
Type: Randomized controlled trial (high-quality study)

Where Was the Research Done?

The research was conducted by physiotherapy and rehabilitation researchers from Turkey, working at:

Amasya University
Trakya University
Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University
Istanbul Aydın University

These are public universities with formal ethics approval and registered clinical trials.

Who Paid for This Research?

No commercial funding
No company sponsorship
No product promotion

This reduces marketing bias and increases trustworthiness.

Who Was Studied?

32 adults with chronic (long-term) neck pain
Ages 18 to 65
All had neck pain for more than 3 months
All had daily life limitations from neck pain

What Did the Researchers Do?

Participants were split into two groups for 8 weeks:

Group 1: Exercise Only

Performed clinical Pilates-style exercises
Focused on neck and shoulder stability
Sessions: 20 minutes, twice per week

Group 2: Exercise + Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Did the same exercises
Plus NMES applied to:
- Lower trapezius muscles
- Serratus anterior muscles
NMES was applied during exercise, not separately

What Did the Researchers Measure?

They measured:

Neck pain intensity (VAS scale)
Neck movement range
Deep neck muscle endurance
Fear of movement
Neck-related daily function

What Did They Find? (Positive Findings Only)

1. Neck Pain Reduced in Both Groups

But more in the NMES group

Pain scores dropped significantly in both groups
The group using NMES + exercise had a larger pain reduction

This means:

Adding electrical stimulation helped people feel less neck pain than exercise alone.

2. Neck Rotation Improved More with NMES

People using NMES had greater improvement when turning their head:

Left rotation improved more
Right rotation improved more

This matters because neck rotation is often painful during:

Driving
Working at a desk
Checking mirrors
Looking sideways

3. Deep Neck Muscle Endurance Improved Much More with NMES

Deep neck muscles help support your head all day.

Exercise alone improved endurance
Exercise + NMES doubled the improvement

This suggests NMES helped muscles stay active longer without fatigue.

4. Fear of Movement Improved (In Both Groups)

People felt less afraid to move their neck after training.

However:

NMES did not improve fear more than exercise alone

5. Daily Disability Improved — But NMES Did Not Add Extra Benefit

Both groups improved daily function.

But:

Adding NMES did not improve daily activity scores more than exercise alone

The researchers believe this is because:

Exercises were not focused on real-life tasks (like lifting or working)

Why Could Electrical Muscle Stimulation Help Neck Pain?

The researchers explain that neck pain is linked to:

Weak deep neck muscles
Poor shoulder blade stability
Overworked surface neck muscles

NMES may help by:

Increasing muscle activation
Improving coordination between neck and shoulder muscles
Supporting muscles that stabilize posture

How Might This Help EMS Users?

This research suggests that EMS or NMES may be useful as a support tool, especially when:

Used together with exercise
Targeting shoulder and upper-back stabilizers
Supporting people with long-lasting neck discomfort

It does not replace exercise.
It supports exercise.

Study Information

Original paper title:
Is there any additional benefits of applying neuromuscular electrical stimulation simultaneously to exercise in chronic neck pain?
Simplified title:
Does Adding Electrical Muscle Stimulation to Exercise Reduce Neck Pain More?
Link to original study:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11332-025-01491-x

Why This Source Is Trustworthy

Published by Springer Nature
Peer-reviewed scientific journal
Registered clinical trial
Ethical approval documented
No commercial funding

Study Summary Table

Item	Details
Study Type	Randomized controlled trial
Year	2025
Participants	32 adults with chronic neck pain
Duration	8 weeks
Comparison	Exercise vs Exercise + NMES
Key Benefits	Greater pain reduction, better neck rotation, higher muscle endurance
Disability Change	Improved, but no added NMES effect

Let’s Talk

Have you ever noticed your neck feels better after movement, but still weak later?

Share your experience in the comments — discussion helps everyone learn.

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