AzTrials
AzTrials

Impingement SyndromeNCT07291843

Percussion Massage Therapy and IASTM in Subacromial Impingement Syndrome

A study testing Percussion massage therapy device, Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization device and Conventional Physiotherapy in people with Impingement Syndrome and Impingement Shoulder, run by Emre DANSUK at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

This assessor-blinded, three-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial investigated the additional effects of percussion massage therapy and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization in individuals with subacromial impingement syndrome. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 40 to 60 years
What is being tested?
Percussion massage therapy device, Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization device and Conventional Physiotherapy
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
48 participants
Where
1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
Study dates
10 Dec 2025to 15 Feb 2026
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 40 to 60 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Men or women aged 40 to 60 years.
  • Diagnosis of subacromial impingement syndrome confirmed by clinical examination and -magnetic resonance imaging.
  • Positive Neer test.
  • Positive Hawkins-Kennedy test.
  • Positive painful arc test.
  • Shoulder symptoms persisting for at least one month.
  • Ability and willingness to participate in the assessment and intervention programme.
  • Provision of written informed consent.

Who cannot join

  • Previous surgery involving the affected upper extremity.
  • Inflammatory joint disease.
  • Shoulder osteoarthritis.
  • Rheumatic disease.
  • Malignant or benign tumour affecting the shoulder region or upper extremity.
  • Open wound or active infection in the shoulder region.
  • Inability to tolerate vibration-based therapy.
  • Inability to comply with the study protocol or intervention programme.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
  • Emre Dansuk

    Istanbul, Beykoz, 34815

Other trials in Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Official title: Effects of Percussion Massage Therapy and Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization on Proprioception, Pain, Disability, and Quality of Life in Individuals With Subacromial Impingement Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This assessor-blinded, three-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial investigated the additional effects of percussion massage therapy and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization in individuals with subacromial impingement syndrome. Forty-eight participants aged 40-60 years with clinically and magnetic resonance imaging-confirmed subacromial impingement syndrome were randomly allocated in a 1:1:1 ratio to conventional physiotherapy, percussion massage therapy plus conventional physiotherapy, or instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization plus conventional physiotherapy.

All groups received a standardized four-week conventional physiotherapy programme. Participants in the percussion massage therapy and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization groups additionally received their respective interventions three times per week for four weeks. Outcomes were evaluated at baseline and immediately after the four-week intervention. The primary outcome was shoulder joint position sense during flexion and abduction. Secondary outcomes were shoulder range of motion, resting and activity-related pain, upper-extremity disability, and rotator cuff-related quality of life.

Read the detailed description

Subacromial impingement syndrome is commonly associated with shoulder pain, limitations in range of motion, functional disability, and impaired sensorimotor control. Exercise-based rehabilitation is considered a primary component of conservative management. Percussion massage therapy and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization are frequently used as adjunct soft-tissue interventions; however, comparative evidence regarding their additional effects in individuals with subacromial impingement syndrome remains limited.

This study was designed as a parallel-group, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial with a 1:1:1 allocation ratio. Forty-eight eligible participants were randomly allocated to one of three groups: conventional physiotherapy, percussion massage therapy plus conventional physiotherapy, or instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization plus conventional physiotherapy.

The randomization sequence was computer-generated using Randomizer.org by an independent researcher who was not involved in participant recruitment, intervention delivery, or outcome assessment. Because of the nature of the interventions, participants and treating physiotherapists could not be blinded. Outcome assessments were conducted by an independent physiotherapist blinded to group allocation. Statistical analyses were conducted by a biostatistician blinded to coded group assignments.

All participants received a standardized conventional physiotherapy programme for four weeks. Participants assigned to the percussion massage therapy and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization groups additionally received the corresponding soft-tissue intervention three times per week for four weeks.

Outcome assessments were performed at baseline and immediately after completion of the four-week intervention. The primary outcome was shoulder joint position sense during flexion and abduction. Secondary outcomes included shoulder range of motion, resting and activity-related pain, upper-extremity disability, and rotator cuff-related quality of life.

Being tested
Percussion massage therapy device, Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization device, Conventional Physiotherapy
Keywords
Subacromial Impingement Syndrome, Shoulder Pain, Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM), Percussion Massage Therapy, Physiotherapy
Medical subject headings
Shoulder Impingement Syndrome, Shoulder Pain

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Percussion massage therapy deviceDevice

    Also called Hypervolt Percussion Massage Device

    Percussion massage therapy was administered using a handheld Hypervolt device (Hyperice, California, USA) at 33 Hz, corresponding to level 2 of the device. A flat-head attachment was used to provide uniform contact with the treated tissues.

    The intervention was applied to the deltoid, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor muscles along their anatomical fibre orientation. Each muscle was treated for three minutes using controlled longitudinal strokes applied alternately in proximal-to-distal and distal-to-proximal directions. The intervention was administered by the same licensed physiotherapist three times per week for four weeks, concurrently with the conventional physiotherapy programme.

  • Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization deviceDevice

    Also called IASTM

    Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization was administered to the deltoid, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor muscles three times per week for four weeks. All applications were performed by the same licensed physiotherapist.

    Standardized sweep and brush stroke techniques were applied at an approximate treatment angle of 45 degrees and in accordance with the anatomical fibre orientation of each muscle. For each muscle, 20 seconds of parallel strokes were followed by 20 seconds of perpendicular strokes using controlled sweeping movements. The intervention was provided in addition to the conventional physiotherapy programme.

  • Conventional PhysiotherapyOther

    Participants received a standardized, supervised conventional physiotherapy programme for four weeks, administered five sessions per week by a licensed physiotherapist. Each session included transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation applied to the symptomatic shoulder for 20 minutes at 100 Hz, followed by a structured exercise programme.

    The exercise programme included wand-assisted active range-of-motion exercises for shoulder flexion, abduction, extension, internal rotation, and external rotation; Codman pendulum exercises; active and passive stretching; and finger ladder exercises. Progressive strengthening exercises using elastic resistance bands were performed for shoulder flexion, abduction, internal rotation, external rotation, and extension. Resistance was progressively adjusted according to pain severity, functional capacity, and treatment tolerance, while a standardized volume of 10 repetitions per set was maintained.

Study groups in NCT07291843
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Percussion Massage Therapy Plus Conventional PhysiotherapyExperimentalParticipants received the standardized conventional physiotherapy programme for four weeks and additionally received percussion massage therapy three times per week for four weeks.
Receives: Device: Percussion massage therapy device; Other: Conventional Physiotherapy
IASTM Plus Conventional PhysiotherapyExperimentalParticipants received the standardized conventional physiotherapy programme for four weeks and additionally received instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization three times per week for four weeks.
Receives: Device: Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization device; Other: Conventional Physiotherapy
Conventional PhysiotherapyActive comparatorParticipants received a standardized, supervised conventional physiotherapy programme five sessions per week for four weeks.
Receives: Other: Conventional Physiotherapy

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in Shoulder Joint Position Sense Error

    Shoulder joint position sense was assessed using a digital goniometer at target positions of 60 degrees of shoulder flexion and 60 degrees of shoulder abduction. The affected shoulder was passively positioned at the target angle, and the participant was allowed up to 10 seconds to memorize the position. The arm was then returned to the neutral position, and the participant was asked to actively reproduce the target position with the eyes closed.

    The absolute angular difference between the target position and the reproduced position was calculated in degrees. Three trials were conducted for flexion and three trials for abduction, and the mean absolute error for each direction was used in the analysis. Lower values indicate greater joint position sense accuracy.

    Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 4-week intervention

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Change in Shoulder Range of Motion

    Active shoulder range of motion was measured in degrees using a digital goniometer under standardized assessment conditions. Shoulder flexion, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation were assessed. Higher values represent greater shoulder range of motion.

    Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 4-week intervention

  2. Change in Resting and Activity-Related Shoulder Pain

    Resting and activity-related shoulder pain intensity were assessed separately using a 10-centimetre Visual Analog Scale. The scale was anchored by 0, indicating no pain, and 10, indicating the worst imaginable pain. Participants marked their pain intensity on the scale, and the distance from the zero anchor was measured in centimetres. Lower scores indicate lower pain intensity.

    Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 4-week intervention

  3. Change in Upper-Extremity Disability

    Upper-extremity disability was assessed using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire. The questionnaire contains 30 items and generates a total score ranging from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate greater upper-extremity disability, whereas lower scores indicate better function.

    Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 4-week intervention

  4. Change in Rotator Cuff-Related Quality of Life

    Rotator cuff-related quality of life was assessed using the Rotator Cuff Quality of Life questionnaire. The questionnaire contains 34 items covering physical symptoms, work, daily activities, social functioning, and emotional well-being. Scores are expressed on a scale from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better rotator cuff-related quality of life.

    Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 4-week intervention

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted18 Dec 2025
  2. Study start10 Dec 2025
  3. Primary completion1 Feb 2026
  4. Study completion15 Feb 2026

Resources

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
Model description
Participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1:1 ratio to conventional physiotherapy, percussion massage therapy plus conventional physiotherapy, or instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization plus conventional physiotherapy. Each participant remained in the assigned parallel intervention group throughout the four-week study period.
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
48 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07291843
Sponsor's protocol ID
E-10840098-202.3.02-7891
Status last verified
Jul 2026
First submitted
6 Dec 2025
Last updated
24 Jul 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: De-identified individual participant data underlying the results reported in the published article will be made available upon reasonable request to the corresponding author for scientifically sound research purposes. Data access will be subject to approval of the proposed use and completion of an appropriate data-sharing agreement, in accordance with institutional policies and applicable ethical requirements.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Percussion massage therapy device, Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization device and Conventional Physiotherapy in people with Impingement Syndrome and Impingement Shoulder, run by Emre DANSUK at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

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 8 inclusion and 8 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 24 Jul 2026. 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 Turkey (Türkiye). 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?

Change in Shoulder Joint Position Sense Error (time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 4-week intervention). 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 24 Jul 2026.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in