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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07005856

The Immediate Effects of Soft Tissue Mobilization on Posterior Shoulder Tightness in Overhead Athletes With Subacromial Pain Syndrome

The aim of this study is to investigate the immediate effects of soft tissue mobilization on shoulder mobility, pain, scapular kinematics and muscle activation and muscle Stiffness in symptomatic overhead athletes with posterior shoulder tightness.

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Key information

Conditions

Posterior Shoulder Tightness Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Shoulder Impingement Syndrome Shoulder Injuries Subacromial Impingement Syndrome Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Taipei, Taiwan

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Amateur overhead athletes aged 18-50 years.
  • Participation in overhead sports training for more than 4 hours per week.
  • Playing experience of more than 3 years.
  • Shoulder range of motion deficits: internal rotation range of motion (ROM) on the affected side is at least 10 degrees less than the unaffected side, and total rotational ROM (internal rotation + external rotation) is at least 5 degrees less than the unaffected side, or horizontal adduction ROM is at least 10 degrees less than the unaffected side.
  • Patients with subacromial pain syndrome: diagnosis requires at least 3 out of 5 positive test results (Hawkins-Kennedy impingement test, Neer impingement test, Empty Can test, Painful Arc test, and External Rotation Resistance test).

Exclusion criteria

  • Negative result on the kinetic medial rotation test.
  • History of shoulder fracture, dislocation, or upper limb injury requiring surgery within the past 6 months.
  • Inability to complete the experiment due to personal factors.
  • Shoulder pain intensity greater than 7 points on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
  • History of direct trauma to the neck or upper limb within the past month. Shoulder pain and neurological symptoms originating from the cervical spine. Contraindications to soft tissue mobilization, such as open wounds in the treatment area, skin cancer, localized infection, severe edema, vascular disorders, or acute muscle tears in the treatment area

Treatment and study plan

soft tissue mobilization

Other

Soft tissue mobilization: mobilization participants' soft tissue by using hands

Stretching

Other

Stretching: help patients do the movement that they're limited to stretch their soft tissue

Hot pack

Other

Add an hot pack on participants' shoulder

Other names: heat therapy

Primary outcomes

  1. Shoulder average pain intensity

    Time frame: Immediately after the single session

    Pain is measured with Visual Analogue scale (VAS) Score range from 0 to 10. Scoring of 0 represents no pain and scoring of 10 represents pain as bad as it could possibly be.

  2. Shoulder passive range of motion (measured with goniometer)

    Time frame: Immediately after the single session

    Shoulder external rotation, internal rotation, horizontal adduction range of motion in shoulder flexion 90 degrees

  3. Shoulder active range of motion (measured with goniometer)

    Time frame: Immediately after the single session

    Shoulder external rotation, internal rotation, horizontal adduction range of motion in shoulder flexion 90 degrees

  4. Perceived improvement

    Time frame: Immediately after the single session

    Perceived improvement was assessed through the GROC scale. Global Rating of Change (GROC) scale was used to assess the participant's perceived improvement. The scale ranges from -7 to +7, where -7 indicates a very great deal worse, 0 indicates no change, and +7 indicates a very great deal better. Higher scores reflect greater perceived improvement.

  5. Shoulder muscle stiffness

    Time frame: Immediately after the single session

    Mean dynamic muscle stiffness (N/m) of shoulder posterior muscles (deltoid, infraspinatus, teres minor) measured by MyotonPRO

Secondary outcomes

  1. Surface electromyography (TeleMyo2400T G2, Noraxon USA Inc., Scottsdale, AZ, USA)

    Time frame: Immediately after the single session

    Muscle activation of infraspinatus, upper trapezius, lower trapezius and serratus anterior during shoulder elevation task in scapular plane and saggital plane

  2. Scapular kinematics (degrees) during shoulder elevation measured by VIPER™ system

    Time frame: Immediately after the single session

    Scapular upward rotation, posterior tilt, and external rotation angles (in degrees) were recorded during shoulder elevation in the scapular and sagittal planes using the VIPER™ electromagnetic tracking system. Data were collected at 30°, 60°, 90°, and 120° of humeral elevation, and reported as mean values for each angle.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Immediate Effects of Soft Tissue Mobilization on Shoulder Mobility, Pain, Scapular Kinematics and Muscle Activation and Muscle Stiffness in Symptomatic Overhead Athletes With Posterior Shoulder Tightness

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jun 5, 2025
Registry last updated
Jun 5, 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.

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