Effect of Thoracic Mobility Exercises Combined With Scapular Stabilization Exercises in Individuals With Subacromial Pain Syndrome

NCT ID: NCT07043842

Last Updated: 2025-06-29

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

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

20 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-07-28

Study Completion Date

2026-09-28

Brief Summary

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The subject of this study is to examine the effects of thoracic mobility exercises combined with scapular stabilization exercises on pain, range of motion, scapular alignment, postural alignment and quality of life in individuals with subacromial pain syndrome.

The scapula assumes a role that is attached to the axial skeleton by atmospheric pressure and axioscapular muscles, and prepares the ground for the formation of wide range of motion in the shoulder complex. The scapulothoracic movement formed by the movement of the scapula on the thorax is provided not only by the function of the scapular muscles but also by the optimization of the thoracic muscles and posture.

Therefore, changes in the biomechanics of the thoracic spine and scapula affect the function of the shoulder. Therefore, we predict that the possible contributions of scapular stabilization and thoracic mobility exercises to scapular alignment and alignment in thoracic posture will further improve shoulder-related complaints.

Detailed Description

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Subacromial pain syndrome is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain. Factors leading to rotator cuff pathology due to decreased subacromial space play a role in its development. Depending on the stage of Subacromial Pain Syndrome; edema and hemorrhage in subacromial tissues, pain and tenderness in the lateral shoulder, fibrosis in the glenohumeral capsule and subacromial bursa, tendonitis in the affected tendons, abrasion, ruptures or osteophytes may develop in tendons. Again depending on the stage; postural changes such as increased downward rotation and anterior tilt in the scapula, loss of active-passive range of motion, atrophy in the rotator cuff and deltoid muscles may be observed. These disorders cause imbalances that may prevent optimal scapulohumeral rhythm. Changes in the biomechanics of the thoracic spine and scapula affect the function of the shoulder. Extension of the thoracic spine is significantly limited in subacromial pain syndrome. The scapula can also assume a significantly increased anterior tilt, internal rotation, protraction and decreased upward rotation position. This situation indicates that interventions are needed to improve limited thoracic extension and altered scapular position that may affect shoulder joint motion and muscle strength in the rehabilitation of individuals with subacromial pain syndrome.

A study on young tennis players, including thoracic region mobility exercises, based on the idea that increased thoracic kyphosis reduces shoulder functional capacity, has yielded effective results in correcting sagittal thoracic curvature and increasing thoracic mobility. It also strongly increased glenohumeral internal and external rotation range of motion.

Throwing injuries to the shoulder joint often occur during shoulder external rotation. Therefore, an appropriate combination of thoracic, scapular and humeral motion during throwing is important to prevent such injuries. Thoracic extension increases scapular posterior tilt and external rotation during shoulder external rotation and decreases glenohumeral horizontal abduction, and also increases maximum shoulder external rotation. It has been shown that providing thoracic extension can contribute to reducing mechanical demands on the glenohumeral joint during activities such as throwing and can potentially reduce shoulder injuries. Restricting thoracic extension can reduce scapulothoracic movement and cause excessive glenohumeral joint movement, which can be a risk factor for shoulder injuries. The finding of a significant positive correlation between scapular posterior tilt and glenohumeral external rotation also provides an idea about the posture that should be adopted to reduce the risk of injury. Therefore, during shoulder movements, it is necessary to correct the posture of the thoracic spine in order to prevent the incompatibility of scapula and thorax movements due to posture. Based on this, it is expected that the study to be conducted will shed light on the rehabilitation of individuals with subacromial pain syndrome by demonstrating the effectiveness of thoracic mobility exercises.

Conditions

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Subacromial Pain Syndrome

Keywords

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subacromial pain syndrome scapular stabilization exercises thoracic mobility exercises

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Treatment group

This group consists of patients who will undergo shoulder circumference exercises and scapular stabilization exercises along with thoracic mobility exercises.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Shoulder circumference exercises

Intervention Type OTHER

They are strengthening and stretching exercises that support the range of motion of the shoulder joint.

Scapular stabilization exercises

Intervention Type OTHER

Changes in the biomechanics of the scapula affect the function of the shoulder. Biomechanical correction will be attempted with these exercises aimed at correcting the posture of the scapula.

Thoracic mobility exercises

Intervention Type OTHER

Changes in the biomechanics of the thoracic spine affect the function of the shoulder. Biomechanical correction will be attempted with these exercises aimed at correcting the posture of the thoracic spine.

Control group

This group consists of patients who will undergo shoulder circumference exercises and scapular stabilization exercises.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Shoulder circumference exercises

Intervention Type OTHER

They are strengthening and stretching exercises that support the range of motion of the shoulder joint.

Scapular stabilization exercises

Intervention Type OTHER

Changes in the biomechanics of the scapula affect the function of the shoulder. Biomechanical correction will be attempted with these exercises aimed at correcting the posture of the scapula.

Interventions

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Shoulder circumference exercises

They are strengthening and stretching exercises that support the range of motion of the shoulder joint.

Intervention Type OTHER

Scapular stabilization exercises

Changes in the biomechanics of the scapula affect the function of the shoulder. Biomechanical correction will be attempted with these exercises aimed at correcting the posture of the scapula.

Intervention Type OTHER

Thoracic mobility exercises

Changes in the biomechanics of the thoracic spine affect the function of the shoulder. Biomechanical correction will be attempted with these exercises aimed at correcting the posture of the thoracic spine.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Volunteering to participate in the study
* Being between the ages of 18-60
* Being diagnosed with subacromial pain syndrome
* Having Stage I or Stage II subacromial pain syndrome according to Neer
* Having unilateral shoulder pain that limits activity for more than 6 weeks
* Having pain intensity over 3 according to VAS

Exclusion Criteria

* Having cervical radiculopathy
* Having spinal deformities
* Having post-traumatic symptom onset
* Having a history of shoulder dislocation or fracture
* Having passive joint movement limitation (frozen shoulder)
* Having received steroid injections within the last 6 weeks
* Having degenerative joint disease of the shoulder joint complex, having a history of surgical intervention to the shoulder joint complex, having any diagnosed rheumatic, systemic or neurological disease
* Having cardiovascular pathologies that limit rehabilitation
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Zeynel Abidin Çapa, MSc

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Hitit University

Locations

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Hitit University

Çorum, , Turkey (Türkiye)

Site Status

Countries

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Turkey (Türkiye)

Central Contacts

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Zeynel Abidin Çapa, Msc

Role: CONTACT

Phone: +905543789285

Email: [email protected]

Other Identifiers

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16.01.2025-01/1119

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id