Posterior Shoulder TightnessNCT07005856
The Immediate Effects of Soft Tissue Mobilization on Posterior Shoulder Tightness in Overhead Athletes With Subacromial Pain Syndrome
A study testing Soft tissue mobilization, Stretching and Hot pack in people with Posterior Shoulder Tightness and Subacromial Impingement Syndrome, run by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University at 1 site in Taiwan.
Trial summary
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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 50 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Posterior Shoulder Tightness, Subacromial Impingement Syndrome
- What is being tested?
- Soft tissue mobilization, Stretching and Hot pack
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 54 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTaiwan
- Study dates
- 15 May 2024to 15 Jan 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 50 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- 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).
Who cannot join
- 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
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official 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
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.
- Being tested
- Soft tissue mobilization, Stretching, Hot pack
- Keywords
- Posterior shoulder tightness, subacromial impingement
- Medical subject headings
- Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Soft tissue mobilizationOther
Soft tissue mobilization: mobilization participants' soft tissue by using hands
StretchingOther
Stretching: help patients do the movement that they're limited to stretch their soft tissue
Hot packOther
Also called heat therapy
Add an hot pack on participants' shoulder
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Soft tissue mobilization group | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Soft tissue mobilization |
| Stretching group | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Stretching |
| Hot pack group | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Other: Hot pack |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Shoulder average pain intensity
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.
Measured: Immediately after the single session
Shoulder passive range of motion (measured with goniometer)
Shoulder external rotation, internal rotation, horizontal adduction range of motion in shoulder flexion 90 degrees
Measured: Immediately after the single session
Shoulder active range of motion (measured with goniometer)
Shoulder external rotation, internal rotation, horizontal adduction range of motion in shoulder flexion 90 degrees
Measured: Immediately after the single session
Perceived improvement
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.
Measured: Immediately after the single session
Shoulder muscle stiffness
Mean dynamic muscle stiffness (N/m) of shoulder posterior muscles (deltoid, infraspinatus, teres minor) measured by MyotonPRO
Measured: Immediately after the single session
Secondary outcomes (2)
Surface electromyography (TeleMyo2400T G2, Noraxon USA Inc., Scottsdale, AZ, USA)
Muscle activation of infraspinatus, upper trapezius, lower trapezius and serratus anterior during shoulder elevation task in scapular plane and saggital plane
Measured: Immediately after the single session
Scapular kinematics (degrees) during shoulder elevation measured by VIPER™ system
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.
Measured: Immediately after the single session
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Jun 2025
- Study start15 May 2024
- Primary completion15 Jan 2025
- Study completion15 Jan 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Posterior Shoulder TightnessStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07005856
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- NYCU111191AF
- Status last verified
- May 2024
- First submitted
- 14 Apr 2025
- Last updated
- 5 Jun 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Jun 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official 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
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07005856
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- NYCU111191AF
- Keywords
- Posterior shoulder tightness, subacromial impingement
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 May 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 15 Jan 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 5 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Soft tissue mobilization group | Experimental | Other: Soft tissue mobilization |
| Stretching group | Experimental | Other: Stretching |
| Hot pack group | Active comparator | Other: Hot pack |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 50 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 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).
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 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
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Soft tissue mobilizationSoft tissue mobilization: mobilization participants' soft tissue by using hands | Other | Soft tissue mobilization group |
| StretchingStretching: help patients do the movement that they're limited to stretch their soft tissue | Other | Stretching group |
| Hot packAlso: heat therapyAdd an hot pack on participants' shoulder | Other | Hot pack group |
Primary outcome
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.
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
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
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.
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
2 secondary outcomes
Surface electromyography (TeleMyo2400T G2, Noraxon USA Inc., Scottsdale, AZ, USA)
Time frame: Immediately after the single session
Scapular kinematics (degrees) during shoulder elevation measured by VIPER™ system
Time frame: Immediately after the single session
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Jun 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Soft tissue mobilization, Stretching and Hot pack in people with Posterior Shoulder Tightness and Subacromial Impingement Syndrome, run by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University at 1 site in Taiwan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Jun 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Taiwan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Shoulder average pain intensity (time frame: Immediately after the single session). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Jun 2025.