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NCT Number: NCT07628361

Contralateral Resistance Training During Immobilization in Patients With Acromioclavicular Joint Injury

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effects of contralateral eccentric and concentric resistance training performed during the immobilization period following acromioclavicular joint injury. Immobilization is commonly prescribed after injury but may lead to reductions in muscle mass, neuromuscular function, force production, and upper-limb functionality.

Contralateral resistance training, also known as cross-education training, involves exercising the non-injured limb to induce beneficial adaptations in the immobilized limb through neural mechanisms. While both eccentric and concentric exercise may produce contralateral effects, their relative effectiveness in a clinical population remains unclear.

Participants with acute acromioclavicular joint injury requiring sling immobilization will be randomly assigned to either a contralateral eccentric training group or a contralateral concentric training group. During immobilization, participants will perform supervised resistance training with the non-injured upper limb. Following immobilization, all participants will receive the same standardized rehabilitation program.

Neuromuscular function, muscle morphology, force production, upper-limb function, and quality of life will be assessed before immobilization, after immobilization, and following rehabilitation. The findings may contribute to the development of more effective rehabilitation strategies for patients recovering from upper-limb injuries requiring temporary immobilization.

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Key information

Conditions

Acromioclavicular Joint Injury Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation

Age range

18 year–36 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Clínica Indisa

Santiago, Providencia, Chile

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Claudio Chamorro Lange, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+569 94398014

About this study

Acromioclavicular joint injury is one of the most common shoulder injuries in physically active individuals. Temporary immobilization using a sling is frequently prescribed during the acute phase of recovery; however, immobilization can result in rapid declines in muscle strength, muscle mass, neuromuscular function, and upper-limb performance.

Cross-education is a neurophysiological phenomenon whereby unilateral resistance training induces adaptations in the contralateral untrained limb. Previous experimental studies have demonstrated that resistance exercise performed with the non-immobilized limb may attenuate strength loss and neuromuscular impairments in an immobilized limb. However, the relative effectiveness of different muscle contraction modes during cross-education training in clinical populations remains poorly understood.

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to compare the effectiveness of contralateral eccentric versus contralateral concentric resistance training performed during the immobilization period in patients with acromioclavicular joint injury. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of two intervention groups: (1) contralateral eccentric resistance training or (2) contralateral concentric resistance training. Both interventions will be performed using the non-injured upper limb during the period of prescribed sling immobilization.

Participants will undergo comprehensive assessments before immobilization, immediately after immobilization, and after completion of a standardized rehabilitation program. Outcomes will include measures of neuromuscular function obtained through peripheral nerve stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, electromyography, and voluntary force assessments. Muscle morphology will be evaluated using ultrasound imaging, while upper-limb function and quality of life will be assessed using validated clinical questionnaires.

Following immobilization, all participants will receive the same rehabilitation program focused on restoring shoulder stability, muscle strength, and functional capacity. The primary objective is to determine whether eccentric or concentric contralateral resistance training more effectively preserves neuromuscular function and facilitates recovery following immobilization.

The results of this study may provide evidence to optimize rehabilitation strategies for patients with acromioclavicular joint injuries and other musculoskeletal conditions requiring temporary upper-limb immobilization.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Men and women aged 18 to 36 years.
  • Diagnosis of acute acromioclavicular joint injury confirmed by an orthopedic surgeon.
  • Physician-prescribed upper-limb immobilization using a sling for approximately 2 to 4 weeks, with or without surgical repair.
  • Ability to understand study procedures and provide written informed consent.
  • Medical clearance to participate in the rehabilitation and resistance training program.

Exclusion criteria

  • Previous surgery or severe musculoskeletal injury affecting either upper limb within the previous 12 months.
  • Neurological disorders affecting motor function or neuromuscular performance.
  • Contraindications to transcranial magnetic stimulation according to established safety guidelines.
  • Current participation in another clinical trial or structured upper-limb rehabilitation program.
  • Cognitive impairment or inability to comply with study procedures.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Any medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigators, may compromise participant safety or study participation.

Treatment and study plan

Contralateral Eccentric Resistance Training

Behavioral

Supervised unilateral eccentric elbow flexor training performed with the non-injured limb during sling immobilization (2-4 weeks). Training is performed 3 times/week, 5 sets of 8-12 repetitions at 60-90% 1RM, with 4-second contractions and 3-minute rest intervals between sets.

Contralateral Concentric Resistance Training

Behavioral

Supervised unilateral concentric elbow flexor training performed with the non-injured limb during sling immobilization (2-4 weeks). Training is performed 3 times/week, 5 sets of 8-12 repetitions at 60-90% 1RM, with 4-second contractions and 3-minute rest intervals between sets.

Primary outcomes

  1. Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction

    Time frame: Baseline, post-immobilization (2-4 weeks), and post-rehabilitation (6-8 weeks)

    Maximal voluntary isometric force of the injured upper limb assessed using a calibrated dynamometer. Force values will be recorded during standardized maximal isometric contractions and used to evaluate changes in muscle performance throughout immobilization and rehabilitation. Unit: Newtons (N)

  2. Rate of Force Development

    Time frame: Baseline, post-immobilization (2-4 weeks), and post-rehabilitation (6-8 weeks)

    Rate of force development (RFD) of the injured upper limb assessed during maximal voluntary isometric contractions using a calibrated dynamometer. RFD will be calculated from the force-time curve and used as an indicator of explosive force production and neuromuscular performance. Unit: N·s-¹ (N/s)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Elbow Flexors Voluntary Activation

    Time frame: Baseline, post-immobilization (2-4 weeks), and post-rehabilitation (6-8 weeks)

    Voluntary activation of the elbow flexors assessed using the interpolated twitch technique during maximal voluntary isometric contractions. Values will be expressed as a percentage of voluntary neural drive to the muscle. Unit: %

  2. Biceps Brachii Motor Supramaximal Response Amplitude

    Time frame: Baseline, post-immobilization (2-4 weeks), and post-rehabilitation (6-8 weeks)

    Peak-to-peak amplitude of the motor supramaximal response (MSUP) evoked by peripheral nerve stimulation during submaximal contractions as an indicator of motor pathway excitability. Unit: mV

  3. Biceps Brachii Motor Evoked Potential Amplitude

    Time frame: Baseline, post-immobilization (2-4 weeks), and post-rehabilitation (6-8 weeks)

    Motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation and normalized to peripheral responses to assess corticospinal excitability. Unit: mV

  4. Biceps Brachii Silent Period Duration

    Time frame: Baseline, post-immobilization (2-4 weeks), and post-rehabilitation (6-8 weeks)

    Duration of the electromyographic silent period following transcranial magnetic stimulation during voluntary contractions as an indicator of cortical inhibition. Unit: ms

  5. Biceps Brachii Short-Interval Intracortical Inhibition

    Time frame: Baseline, post-immobilization (2-4 weeks), and post-rehabilitation (6-8 weeks)

    Short-interval intracortical inhibition assessed using paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation as an index of intracortical inhibitory function. Unit: mV

  6. Biceps Brachii Cervicomedullary Motor Evoked Potential Amplitude

    Time frame: Baseline, post-immobilization (2-4 weeks), and post-rehabilitation (6-8 weeks)

    Motor unit discharge characteristics assessed using high-density surface electromyography, including discharge rate, recruitment thresholds, and estimates of intrinsic motoneuron properties. Unit: mV

  7. Biceps Brachii Motor Unit Behavior

    Time frame: Baseline, post-immobilization (2-4 weeks), and post-rehabilitation (6-8 weeks)

    Motor unit discharge characteristics assessed using high-density surface electromyography, including discharge rate, recruitment thresholds, and estimates of intrinsic motoneuron properties. Unit: pulses/s (pps)

  8. Biceps Brachii MMAX Amplitude

    Time frame: Baseline, post-immobilization (2-4 weeks), and post-rehabilitation (6-8 weeks)

    Peak-to-peak amplitude of the maximal compound muscle action potential (MMAX) evoked by peripheral nerve stimulation as an indicator of peripheral excitability. Unit: mV

  9. Biceps Brachii Peripheral Contractile Properties

    Time frame: Baseline, post-immobilization (2-4 weeks), and post-rehabilitation (6-8 weeks)

    Evoked twitch and doublet force responses obtained using peripheral nerve stimulation to assess muscle contractile function. Unit: N

  10. Biceps Brachii Muscle Thickness

    Time frame: Baseline, post-immobilization (2-4 weeks), and post-rehabilitation (6-8 weeks)

    Muscle thickness assessed by B-mode ultrasonography as an indicator of muscle morphology and preservation during immobilization and rehabilitation. Unit: mm

  11. Upper Limb Function (QuickDASH)

    Time frame: Baseline, post-immobilization (2-4 weeks), and post-rehabilitation (6-8 weeks)

    Upper-limb disability and functional status assessed using the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire. Unit: 0-100 points

  12. Health-Related Quality of Life (SF-36)

    Time frame: Baseline, post-immobilization (2-4 weeks), and post-rehabilitation (6-8 weeks)

    Health-related quality of life assessed using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Unit: 0-100 points

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Omar E Valdés Tapia, PT, MSc, PhD(c)

CONTACT

[email protected]

+569 74082822

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universidad Nacional Andres Bello

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of Contralateral Eccentric and Concentric Resistance Training During Immobilization on Neuromuscular Function, Functional Recovery, and Quality of Life in Patients With Acromioclavicular Joint Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: CROSS-ACD

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jun 5, 2026
Registry last updated
Jun 8, 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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