Effect of TECAR (Transfer of Energy Capacitive and Resistive) Therapy on Chronic Supraspinatus Tendinitis

NCT ID: NCT07316712

Last Updated: 2026-01-05

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 46 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-12-30
• Study Completion Date: 2026-02-28

Brief Summary

This study aims to investigate the effect of TECAR therapy on pain, shoulder range of motion, functional disability, and handgrip strength in patients with grade II supraspinatus tendinitis.

Detailed Description

Tendinopathy occurs when pain arises in a tendon near its origin or insertion due to repetitive activities and reduced functional levels. It happens when the tendon does not properly heal. Thirty percent of tendinopathies related to musculoskeletal conditions are associated with shoulder pain, and supraspinatus tendinitis is the third most prevalent problem.

The supraspinatus tendon, part of the rotator cuff of the shoulder joint, is particularly affected. Aging is also a common factor leading to supraspinatus tendon injuries. The primary function of the supraspinatus muscle is shoulder abduction, particularly during movements that elevate the arm overhead. During these motions, the supraspinatus tendon repeatedly passes beneath the acromion process of the scapula, which can result in impingement and subsequent inflammation. An unexpected force or trauma may cause a partial or complete tendon rupture if this condition progresses.

Transfer of Energy Capacitive and Resistive (TECAR) offers a unique variety of treatments for chronic and acute pathologies, with contraindications such as pregnancy, pacemakers, and sensitivity to high temperatures. It should be noted that this new technology is a valuable tool in treating various pathologies, particularly when compared with other therapies in terms of the presence and/or absence of specific positive effects. TECAR also has distinct characteristics that are effective even when other treatments fail. This therapy balances the therapist's manual skills and the specialized energy that this technology offers, resulting in increasingly satisfactory outcomes for therapists and patients.

Conditions

Supraspinatus Tendinitis

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Conventional treatment + TECAR therapy

The experimental group will receive conventional physiotherapy sessions as the active comparator group, in addition to TECAR therapy at the end of each session. Sessions will be received for three weeks (nine sessions, three times per week).

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Conventional treatment

Intervention Type: OTHER

All patients in both groups will receive conventional treatment, 3 sessions per week for 3 weeks. The conventional methods for treating supraspinatus tendinitis include shoulder swings, painless range of motion (ROM) exercises, shoulder joint active-assisted exercises, resistance exercises to improve muscle strength, and pain-reducing physiotherapy modalities like ultrasound.

TECAR (Transfer of Energy Capacitive and Resistive) Therapy

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Patients in the experimental group only will receive TECAR therapy, 3 sessions per week for 3 weeks. The treatment will start with an automatic capacitive energy transfer for 10 minutes. Next, the capacitive plaque will be replaced by the resistive electrode, and the neutral electrode will be fixed

Conventional treatment

The active comparator group will receive conventional physiotherapy sessions for three weeks (nine sessions, three times per week).

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Conventional treatment

Intervention Type: OTHER

All patients in both groups will receive conventional treatment, 3 sessions per week for 3 weeks. The conventional methods for treating supraspinatus tendinitis include shoulder swings, painless range of motion (ROM) exercises, shoulder joint active-assisted exercises, resistance exercises to improve muscle strength, and pain-reducing physiotherapy modalities like ultrasound.

Interventions

Conventional treatment

All patients in both groups will receive conventional treatment, 3 sessions per week for 3 weeks. The conventional methods for treating supraspinatus tendinitis include shoulder swings, painless range of motion (ROM) exercises, shoulder joint active-assisted exercises, resistance exercises to improve muscle strength, and pain-reducing physiotherapy modalities like ultrasound.

Intervention Type: OTHER

TECAR (Transfer of Energy Capacitive and Resistive) Therapy

Patients in the experimental group only will receive TECAR therapy, 3 sessions per week for 3 weeks. The treatment will start with an automatic capacitive energy transfer for 10 minutes. Next, the capacitive plaque will be replaced by the resistive electrode, and the neutral electrode will be fixed

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Supraspinatus Tendinitis grade II based on Neer's classification, confirmed by special tests, signs, and symptoms of grade I and II Supraspinatus Tendinitis for the past month, and taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as suggested by the physician.
• All patients will have a body mass index between 18.5 and 29.9 kg/m².

Exclusion Criteria

• Other grades of Supraspinatus Tendinitis.
• Any past shoulder surgical interventions.
• Instability of the shoulder joint due to other reasons, Acromioclavicular Joint Arthritis.
• Non-cooperative subjects.
• Diabetes
• Pregnant or lactating women.
• Serious neuromuscular or cardiovascular diseases.
• Systemic illness and severe COVID-19 cases will be excluded from this study.
• Pacemakers
• Heat Sensitivity
• Metal Implants

• Minimum Eligible Age: 30 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 55 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Cairo University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Mohamed Gamal Ibrahem Alghamry

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Hanaa Kenawy Atta, PhD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Assistant Professor, Cairo University

Hend Hamdy Mohamed Ahmed, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Lecturer, Cairo university

Locations

CAN Center outpatient clinic

Cairo, , Egypt

Countries

Egypt

Central Contacts

Mohamed Gamal Ibrahem Alghamry, B.Sc

Role: CONTACT

Mohamed.gamal.2651997@gmail.com

+20 114 448 1731

Hend Hamdy Mohamed Ahmed, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Facility Contacts

Mohamed Gamal Ibrahem Alghamry, B.Sc

Role: primary

Mohamed.gamal.2651997@gmail.com

+20 114 448 1731

Other Identifiers

P.T.REC/012/005900

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id