Sleeper Stretch in CrossFit Participants

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of the sleeper stretch in improving shoulder range of motion, strength and upper body performance in CrossFit athletes.

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Key information

Conditions

Shoulder Pain Arthralgia Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–55 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Mayo Clinic Health System-La Crosse, La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

Regularly active (attending CrossFit > 2x per week)

Exclusion criteria

Positive test for labral lesions or rotator cuff tears
History of recent fracture
Orthopedic surgery in the upper limbs or cervical region
Any other current injury that would prevent participation in regular work-shift activities

Treatment and study plan

Sleeper stretch

Behavioral

Participants will complete their regularly scheduled workout activities over 8 weeks, with the addition of the sleeper stretch into the dynamic warm-up. Participants will be instructed to lie side-lying with the dominant arm downward, the trunk rotated posteriorly 20 to 30°, the shoulder raised to 90°, the elbow flexed to 90°, and both knees semi-flexed to ensure stability. Participants will then be asked to use the opposite hand to grasp the dominant hand below the wrist and gradually internally rotate the forearm towards the floor; (i.e., the participant will perform passive internal rotation with the opposite arm). This stretch position will be completed on both sides. Participants will be instructed to complete 2 sets of 10 repetitions for each arm and hold the position for ~2 seconds.

Standard workout

Behavioral

Participants will complete their regularly programmed dynamic warm-ups before scheduled workout for 8 weeks.

Primary outcomes

Upper body function

Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks

Measured by isometric horizontal push test (IHPT), a newly designed test that selectively measures the horizontal component of maximal isometric force, with 3 minutes of rest between each trial. The participants will place their hands on force platforms that sample ground reaction force data at 1000 Hz throughout the test.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Mayo Clinic

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effects of a Sleeper Stretch Intervention on Measures of Performance and Pain in CrossFit Participants: A Randomized Trial

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2025
Study completion: 2025
First posted: Dec 6, 2024
Registry last updated: Oct 22, 2025

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.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed