The Effect of Humeral Head Depressor Strengthening in Individuals With Subacromial Impingement Syndrome

NCT ID: NCT07228455

Last Updated: 2025-11-14

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 40 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-07-03
• Study Completion Date: 2024-07-03

Brief Summary

Subacromial impingement syndrome is a common musculoskeletal disorder. Therefore, to improve the shoulder biomechanics affected by the syndrome, an intervention group was compared with a control group. The exercise program applied to the intervention group is expected to improve the function of the shoulder complex.

Detailed Description

Subacromial Impingement Syndrome (SIS) is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems in the shoulder joint. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a rehabilitation program targeting humeral head depressor muscles on symptoms in individuals with SIS.Participants were randomly divided into study and control groups.Volunteers who complained of shoulder pain for more than a month, who had limitation in passive movement compared to the other side shoulder, who had Neer impingement test, Hawkins test, Jobe supraspinatus test, and who were able to com-municate were included in the study. Individuals 1) Having any neurological condition affecting the upper extremity, 2) having neurological findings related to cervical disc herniation, 3) having a full-thickness rupture of one of the rotator cuff tendons, 4) having calcific tendonitis, 5) having undergone previous shoulder surgery and 6) Physical therapy-rehabilitation for the shoulder with the same complaints in the last 6 months, or 7) receiving corticosteroid injection were excluded from the study. While the control group received standard physical therapy and rehabilitation, the study group underwent a progressive resistance exercise program to strengthen the humeral head depressors and peri-articular muscles, including the rotator cuff. Acromio-humeral distance (AHD) and tendon thickness measurements were evaluated by ultrasonography, while pain intensity was measured through VAS and McGill Questionnaire, upper extremity disability through DASH-T, and kinesiophobia through Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, respectively.

Conditions

Subacromial Impingement Syndrome

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

The Intervention Group

The Intervention group underwent a progressive resistance exercise program to strengthen the humeral head depressors and peri-articular muscles, including the rotator cuff. The exercises were performed 3 times per week for 6 weeks, with each session lasting approximately 1 hour

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Humeral Head Depressor Exercises

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The Intervention group underwent a progressive resistance exercise program to strengthen the humeral head depressors and peri-articular muscles, including the rotator cuff. Exercises were performed 3 times per week for 6 weeks, each session lasting approximately 1 hour

The Control Group

Participants in the control group received standard physical therapy and rehabilitation as usually applied in routine care. Sessions were performed 3 times per week for 6 weeks, each lasting approximately 1 hour.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Standard physical therapy

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants in this group received standard physical therapy and rehabilitation as usually applied in routine care. Exercises were performed 3 times per week for 6 weeks, each session lasting approximately 1 hour. Outcomes were measured at the same time points as the intervention group.

Interventions

Humeral Head Depressor Exercises

The Intervention group underwent a progressive resistance exercise program to strengthen the humeral head depressors and peri-articular muscles, including the rotator cuff. Exercises were performed 3 times per week for 6 weeks, each session lasting approximately 1 hour

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Standard physical therapy

Participants in this group received standard physical therapy and rehabilitation as usually applied in routine care. Exercises were performed 3 times per week for 6 weeks, each session lasting approximately 1 hour. Outcomes were measured at the same time points as the intervention group.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Volunteers who complained of shoulder pain for more than a month,
• Who had limitation in passive movement compared to the other side shoulder,
• Who had Neer impingement test, Hawkins test, Jobe supraspinatus test, and -
• Who were able to com-municate were included in the study

Exclusion Criteria

• Having any neurological condition affecting the upper extremity,
• Having neuro-logical findings related to cervical disc herniation,
• Having a full-thickness rupture of one of the rotator cuff tendons,
• Having calcific tendonitis,
• Having undergone previous shoulder surgery,
• Physical therapy-rehabilitation for the shoulder with the same complaints in the last 6 months,
• Receiving corticosteroid injection were excluded from the study

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Near East University, Turkey

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Utku Kurtaran

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Ahmet OZGUL, Prof.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kyrenia University Hospital, Kyrenia, Cyprus

Locations

Near East University Hospital

Nicosia, , Cyprus

Countries

Cyprus

Other Identifiers

2023/115-1751

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id