BFRT for Subacromial Pain

NCT ID: NCT06873113

Last Updated: 2025-07-08

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

36 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-05-13

Study Completion Date

2028-12-31

Brief Summary

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The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to learn if blood flow restriction training is safe and feasible in patients with subacromial pain. The main questions the investigators aim to answer are:

* What problems do participants with shoulder pain encounter when training with blood flow restriction?
* Is it feasible to apply blood flow restriction training as part of a physical therapy intervention?
* What are some preliminary effects of blood flow restriction training on the recovery of shoulder function and strength?

The investigators will compare active blood flow restriction training to sham (an inactive procedure designed to mimic the active training as closely as possible).

Participants will:

* Visit the clinic for physical therapy visits and exercise with blood flow restriction training for up to 8 weeks
* Visit the clinic for tests before starting the treatment, during the treatment (4 weeks), and after the end of the treatment (8 and 26 weeks).

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Shoulder Pain

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Active BFRT

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Active BFRT

Intervention Type DEVICE

The BFR device is applied unilaterally on participants involved upper extremity. The BFR device maintains 50% of participants limb occlusion pressure for the duration of each strengthening exercise.

Strengthening Exercises with BFRT

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants perform 4 strengthening exercises while using the BFR device: seated scapular plane elevation, prone horizontal abduction, side-lying external rotation, and prone scapular plane elevation. Each exercise is performed unilaterally. Participants perform 1 set of 30 repetitions followed by 3 sets of 15 repetitions (4 total sets, 75 total repetitions). Participants are given 30 seconds rest between sets and 2 minutes of rest between strengthening exercises. Selected resistance for each strengthening exercise is equal to 20% of the participant's maximal force production as measured by handheld dynamometry. Resistance is adjusted weekly.

Skilled Physical Therapy Care

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants perform non-strengthening interventions as part of skilled physical therapy care. Non-strengthening interventions include an upper arm ergometer for warm-up, active assisted range of motion of the shoulder, shoulder stretching, shoulder joint mobilizations, and cryotherapy. Non-strengthening interventions are prescribed at the discretion of the treating physical therapist. Participants are enrolled in physical therapy for a minimum of 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, the treating physical therapist can discharge a participant based on their progress in meeting their rehabilitation goals. Participants discharged from skilled physical therapy care will continue to complete strengthening exercises with BFRT until the end of the trial period (8 weeks).

Sham BFRT

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham BFRT

Intervention Type DEVICE

The BFR device is applied unilaterally on participants involved upper extremity. The BFR device maintains a pressure of 20mmHg for the duration of each strengthening exercise.

Strengthening Exercises with BFRT

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants perform 4 strengthening exercises while using the BFR device: seated scapular plane elevation, prone horizontal abduction, side-lying external rotation, and prone scapular plane elevation. Each exercise is performed unilaterally. Participants perform 1 set of 30 repetitions followed by 3 sets of 15 repetitions (4 total sets, 75 total repetitions). Participants are given 30 seconds rest between sets and 2 minutes of rest between strengthening exercises. Selected resistance for each strengthening exercise is equal to 20% of the participant's maximal force production as measured by handheld dynamometry. Resistance is adjusted weekly.

Skilled Physical Therapy Care

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants perform non-strengthening interventions as part of skilled physical therapy care. Non-strengthening interventions include an upper arm ergometer for warm-up, active assisted range of motion of the shoulder, shoulder stretching, shoulder joint mobilizations, and cryotherapy. Non-strengthening interventions are prescribed at the discretion of the treating physical therapist. Participants are enrolled in physical therapy for a minimum of 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, the treating physical therapist can discharge a participant based on their progress in meeting their rehabilitation goals. Participants discharged from skilled physical therapy care will continue to complete strengthening exercises with BFRT until the end of the trial period (8 weeks).

Interventions

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Active BFRT

The BFR device is applied unilaterally on participants involved upper extremity. The BFR device maintains 50% of participants limb occlusion pressure for the duration of each strengthening exercise.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham BFRT

The BFR device is applied unilaterally on participants involved upper extremity. The BFR device maintains a pressure of 20mmHg for the duration of each strengthening exercise.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Strengthening Exercises with BFRT

Participants perform 4 strengthening exercises while using the BFR device: seated scapular plane elevation, prone horizontal abduction, side-lying external rotation, and prone scapular plane elevation. Each exercise is performed unilaterally. Participants perform 1 set of 30 repetitions followed by 3 sets of 15 repetitions (4 total sets, 75 total repetitions). Participants are given 30 seconds rest between sets and 2 minutes of rest between strengthening exercises. Selected resistance for each strengthening exercise is equal to 20% of the participant's maximal force production as measured by handheld dynamometry. Resistance is adjusted weekly.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Skilled Physical Therapy Care

Participants perform non-strengthening interventions as part of skilled physical therapy care. Non-strengthening interventions include an upper arm ergometer for warm-up, active assisted range of motion of the shoulder, shoulder stretching, shoulder joint mobilizations, and cryotherapy. Non-strengthening interventions are prescribed at the discretion of the treating physical therapist. Participants are enrolled in physical therapy for a minimum of 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, the treating physical therapist can discharge a participant based on their progress in meeting their rehabilitation goals. Participants discharged from skilled physical therapy care will continue to complete strengthening exercises with BFRT until the end of the trial period (8 weeks).

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Between 18 and 50 years of age
* Unilateral pain in the anterolateral shoulder
* Self-reported shoulder function of ≤7 (10, full function)
* At least 90° of active shoulder elevation
* 3 out of 5 positive tests to define subacromial pain.

Exclusion Criteria

* history of shoulder fracture, frozen shoulder, or shoulder surgery
* primary complaint of shoulder instability/dislocation
* history of cardiovascular, neurologic, and pulmonary conditions that would impair the subject's ability to participate in physical therapy
* active treatment for cancer
* uncontrolled diabetes
* uncontrolled high blood pressure
* corticosteroid injection at the shoulder within 6 weeks
* imaging evidence of rotator cuff tears
* pregnancy


* contraindications to BFRT (sickle cell anemia, deep vein thrombosis, peripheral circulatory diseases)
* taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

50 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Florida

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Federico Pozzi, PT, MA, PhD

Role: CONTACT

(352) 273-6957

Facility Contacts

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Shea Herlihy, MS

Role: primary

352-273-7361

Other Identifiers

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R21AR082588-01A1

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

IRB202302184

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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