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OpenTrials
Enrolling by invitation

NCT Number: NCT07744542

Glenohumeral OsteoArthritis Therapy Trial

Arthritis of the shoulder glenohumeral joint is a growing problem in an aging population. Treatment options for glenohumeral arthritis can be grouped into three main categories: 1) shoulder replacement surgery, 2) injections (corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid and PRP) and physical therapy (PT). Surgery comes with risks and the potential for implant failure or revision over time. Therefore, it is typical for doctors to prescribe injections and/or PT before discussing surgery. Sometimes, insurance companies will require PT before considering a shoulder operation. It is unknown if PT is effective for improving function or pain with patients with glenohumeral arthritis. The aim of this study is to compare pain and functional outcomes after undergoing a 12 week PT program, at home PT exercises or delaying conservative treatment.

Enrolling by invitation

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Key information

Conditions

Glenohumeral Arthritis Shoulder Arthritis Osteoarthritis

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

Buffalo, New York, 14221-2108, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patient diagnosed with glenohumeral arthritis
  • Patient > 18 years of age (adults)
  • Patient provided written informed consent for study participation with IRB approved consent form
  • Patient is willing and able to comply with scheduled clinical and radiographic evaluations and physical therapy regimen

Exclusion criteria

  • -Have had corticosteroid injections in the affected shoulder(s) within 6 weeks of starting physical therapy.
  • Those that have glenohumeral arthritis that is inflammatory, post traumatic or related to rotator cuff tear arthropathy in nature
  • Have avascular necrosis of the glenohumeral joint
  • Have failed a course of 6 weeks of physical therapy within the last year
  • Have had surgery on the symptomatic shoulder in the past year
  • Daily use of opioid (excluding tramadol or codeine).
  • Have dementia
  • Currently in a physical therapy program for more than 2 weeks
  • Have planned total shoulder arthroplasty in the next 6 months.
  • Live in a nursing home
  • Additionally special populations listed below such as pregnant women, and prisoners will be excluded.

Treatment and study plan

Physical Therapy

Behavioral

12 weeks of designated physical therapy focused on improving shoulder strength and range of motion

home physical therapy

Behavioral

12 weeks of home therapy program focused on improving shoulder strength and range of motion

Primary outcomes

  1. Visual analog scale (VAS)

    Time frame: Time 0, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 1 year

    measures pain from 0 being none and 10 as the worst pain ever felt.

  2. American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES)

    Time frame: Time 0, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 1 year

    This score is a 100-point shoulder evaluation tool divided evenly into a pain subscore (50 points) and an activities of daily living (ADL) function subscore (50 points). Higher scores indicate less pain and better shoulder function.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

State University of New York at Buffalo

Other

Registry information

Official study title

A Prospective Randomized Trial Comparing Physical Therapy or Home Exercise With No Treatment for Patients With Glenohumeral Osteoarthritis

Acronym: GOAT

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
Aug 4, 2026
Registry last updated
Aug 4, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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