Shoulder PainACJTapingNCT07333417
Effects of Rigid Taping in Acromioclavicular Joint Degeneration
A study testing Rigid Taping and Exercise Program in people with Shoulder Pain and Acromioclavicular Joint, run by Hacettepe University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study will examine whether rigid taping applied to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint can reduce shoulder pain and improve shoulder function in people with AC joint degeneration. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Shoulder Pain, Acromioclavicular Joint
- What is being tested?
- Rigid Taping and Exercise Program
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 28 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Jan 2026to 30 Apr 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- A clinical diagnosis of acromioclavicular (AC) joint degeneration confirmed by clinical examination and imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI).
- Shoulder pain duration of at least 4 weeks.
- Age between 18 and 65 years
- Willingness to refrain from any additional treatments outside the study protocol during the study period (e.g., medication changes, injections, or physiotherapy elsewhere) and to provide written informed consent
Who cannot join
- Current or previous diagnosis/history of acromioclavicular (AC) joint separation.
- Diagnosis of frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis).
- History of acute trauma or fracture involving the shoulder girdle (e.g., clavicle fracture, shoulder dislocation).
- History of shoulder surgery.
- Systemic inflammatory joint disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis) or other systemic arthropathies.
- Skin conditions preventing taping (e.g., rash, open wound, or known tape allergy).
- Neuromuscular disease or neurological disorders affecting shoulder function
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Hacettepe University, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Sports Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department
Ankara, Ankara
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Rigid Taping on Pain and Function in Individuals With Acromioclavicular Joint
This study will examine whether rigid taping applied to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint can reduce shoulder pain and improve shoulder function in people with AC joint degeneration. Participants with shoulder pain and a confirmed diagnosis of AC joint degeneration will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) rigid taping plus a standardized exercise program or (2) the same exercise program without taping. The program will last 4 weeks, with weekly supervised visits. Pain, shoulder motion, and shoulder function will be assessed at baseline, after the first session (acute effect), at the end of treatment (Week 4), and at a 3-month follow-up.
Read the detailed description
Shoulder pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints and can affect daily activities, work, and sports participation. Among the potential sources of shoulder pain, the acromioclavicular (AC) joint is a distinct pain generator that can often be identified through a targeted clinical examination. Diagnosis is typically based on a detailed history combined with physical tests designed to provoke AC joint symptoms, such as scarf maneuvers and localized palpation.
The AC joint is a synovial articulation between the distal clavicle and the acromion of the scapula. Although its motion is relatively limited, it plays an important role in load transfer across the shoulder girdle, particularly during arm elevation and overhead activities. AC joint symptoms may arise through different mechanisms, including degenerative changes over time, traumatic events, or inflammatory processes. Degenerative AC joint disease may coexist with other shoulder conditions, and structural changes around the joint can contribute to pain by increasing mechanical stress and altering the subacromial environment. As a result, individuals may experience pain with overhead movements, cross-body motions, lifting, pushing, or during sport-specific tasks.
Management of AC joint degeneration typically begins with conservative care. Common non-surgical strategies include physiotherapy, activity modification, temporary unloading or immobilization when needed, and symptom-directed medical management. Rehabilitation approaches generally focus on optimizing posture, improving scapular control, enhancing periscapular strength and endurance, restoring flexibility of the posterior shoulder structures, and progressively reintroducing functional loading while minimizing symptom provocation.
Taping techniques are frequently used in shoulder rehabilitation as an adjunct to exercise-based care. In clinical practice, rigid and elastic taping methods are applied with the intention of modifying joint alignment and mechanical loading, limiting painful movement patterns, and supporting more efficient scapulothoracic and glenohumeral mechanics during activity. Rigid taping, in particular, is often considered when a more structured mechanical effect is desired. While taping has been investigated in various shoulder pain presentations, existing evidence has largely focused on subacromial pain conditions and scapular kinematics rather than AC joint degeneration specifically. Consequently, there remains uncertainty about whether rigid taping provides additional clinical benefit for individuals whose primary pain source is degenerative change at the AC joint.
Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of rigid AC joint taping on shoulder pain, pain-free shoulder range of motion, and shoulder function in individuals with shoulder pain associated with AC joint degeneration.
- Conditions
- Shoulder Pain, Acromioclavicular Joint
- Being tested
- Rigid Taping, Exercise Program
- Keywords
- Shoulder pain, Acromioclavicular joint degeneration, Rigid taping
- Medical subject headings
- Shoulder Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Rigid TapingOther
Rigid taping will be applied to the acromioclavicular joint using a standardized technique aiming to posteriorize the acromion and inferiorize the clavicle. Taping will be performed once weekly for 4
Exercise ProgramOther
A standardized shoulder exercise program focusing on soft tissue flexibility, scapular stabilization, and rotator cuff activation will be applied once weekly for 4 weeks.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Rigid Taping + Exercise | Active comparator | Participants will receive rigid acromioclavicular joint taping once weekly for 4 weeks in addition to a standardized shoulder exercise program supervised by a physiotherapist. Receives: Other: Rigid Taping; Other: Exercise Program |
| Exercise Only | Active comparator | Participants will receive a standardized shoulder exercise program supervised by a physiotherapist without any taping application. Receives: Other: Exercise Program |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pain Intensity
Pain intensity will be assessed at rest and during activity using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
Measured: Baseline (Week 0), immediately after the first session (acute effect), Week 4 (end of intervention), and Month 3 follow-up
Shoulder Range of Motion
Shoulder range of motion (flexion, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation) will be assessed using a goniometer by recording active range of motion until pain onset, active range of motion despite pain, and passive end-range of motion.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0), immediately after the first session (acute effect), Week 2, Week 4 (end of intervention), and Month 3 follow-up
Secondary outcomes (1)
Shoulder Function
Shoulder function will be evaluated using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Shoulder Score (ASES), which assesses pain and functional activities of daily living.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4 (end of intervention), and Month 3 follow-up
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Jan 2026
- Study start1 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion25 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Apr 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Shoulder PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Hacettepe 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
- Model description
- Outcome assessments are planned to be conducted by an assessor blinded to group allocation whenever possible.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 28 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Hacettepe University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Irem Duzgun, Hacettepe University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07333417
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ACJTaping
- Acronym
- ACJTaping
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 30 Dec 2025
- Last updated
- 12 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be shared because specific data-sharing agreements and governance procedures have not been established.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 12 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Rigid Taping on Pain and Function in Individuals With Acromioclavicular Joint
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07333417
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ACJTaping / ACJTaping
- Conditions
- Shoulder Pain, Acromioclavicular Joint
- Keywords
- Shoulder pain, Acromioclavicular joint degeneration, Rigid taping
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 28 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Hacettepe UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 25 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 12 Jan 2026 (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.
This study will examine whether rigid taping applied to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint can reduce shoulder pain and improve shoulder function in people with AC joint degeneration. Participants with shoulder pain and a confirmed diagnosis of AC joint degeneration will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) rigid taping plus a standardized exercise program or (2) the same exercise program without taping. The program will last 4 weeks, with weekly supervised visits. Pain, shoulder motion, and shoulder function will be assessed at baseline, after the first session (acute effect), at the end of treatment (Week 4), and at a 3-month follow-up.
Detailed description
Shoulder pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints and can affect daily activities, work, and sports participation. Among the potential sources of shoulder pain, the acromioclavicular (AC) joint is a distinct pain generator that can often be identified through a targeted clinical examination. Diagnosis is typically based on a detailed history combined with physical tests designed to provoke AC joint symptoms, such as scarf maneuvers and localized palpation.
The AC joint is a synovial articulation between the distal clavicle and the acromion of the scapula. Although its motion is relatively limited, it plays an important role in load transfer across the shoulder girdle, particularly during arm elevation and overhead activities. AC joint symptoms may arise through different mechanisms, including degenerative changes over time, traumatic events, or inflammatory processes. Degenerative AC joint disease may coexist with other shoulder conditions, and structural changes around the joint can contribute to pain by increasing mechanical stress and altering the subacromial environment. As a result, individuals may experience pain with overhead movements, cross-body motions, lifting, pushing, or during sport-specific tasks.
Management of AC joint degeneration typically begins with conservative care. Common non-surgical strategies include physiotherapy, activity modification, temporary unloading or immobilization when needed, and symptom-directed medical management. Rehabilitation approaches generally focus on optimizing posture, improving scapular control, enhancing periscapular strength and endurance, restoring flexibility of the posterior shoulder structures, and progressively reintroducing functional loading while minimizing symptom provocation.
Taping techniques are frequently used in shoulder rehabilitation as an adjunct to exercise-based care. In clinical practice, rigid and elastic taping methods are applied with the intention of modifying joint alignment and mechanical loading, limiting painful movement patterns, and supporting more efficient scapulothoracic and glenohumeral mechanics during activity. Rigid taping, in particular, is often considered when a more structured mechanical effect is desired. While taping has been investigated in various shoulder pain presentations, existing evidence has largely focused on subacromial pain conditions and scapular kinematics rather than AC joint degeneration specifically. Consequently, there remains uncertainty about whether rigid taping provides additional clinical benefit for individuals whose primary pain source is degenerative change at the AC joint.
Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of rigid AC joint taping on shoulder pain, pain-free shoulder range of motion, and shoulder function in individuals with shoulder pain associated with AC joint degeneration.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Outcome assessments are planned to be conducted by an assessor blinded to group allocation whenever possible.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Rigid Taping + Exercise | Active comparator | Other: Rigid Taping, Other: Exercise ProgramParticipants will receive rigid acromioclavicular joint taping once weekly for 4 weeks in addition to a standardized shoulder exercise program supervised by a physiotherapist. |
| Exercise Only | Active comparator | Other: Exercise ProgramParticipants will receive a standardized shoulder exercise program supervised by a physiotherapist without any taping application. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- A clinical diagnosis of acromioclavicular (AC) joint degeneration confirmed by clinical examination and imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI).
- Shoulder pain duration of at least 4 weeks.
- Age between 18 and 65 years
- Willingness to refrain from any additional treatments outside the study protocol during the study period (e.g., medication changes, injections, or physiotherapy elsewhere) and to provide written informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Current or previous diagnosis/history of acromioclavicular (AC) joint separation.
- Diagnosis of frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis).
- History of acute trauma or fracture involving the shoulder girdle (e.g., clavicle fracture, shoulder dislocation).
- History of shoulder surgery.
- Systemic inflammatory joint disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis) or other systemic arthropathies.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rigid TapingRigid taping will be applied to the acromioclavicular joint using a standardized technique aiming to posteriorize the acromion and inferiorize the clavicle. Taping will be performed once weekly for 4 | Other | Rigid Taping + Exercise |
| Exercise ProgramA standardized shoulder exercise program focusing on soft tissue flexibility, scapular stabilization, and rotator cuff activation will be applied once weekly for 4 weeks. | Other | Exercise Only, Rigid Taping + Exercise |
Primary outcome
Pain Intensity
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), immediately after the first session (acute effect), Week 4 (end of intervention), and Month 3 follow-up
Pain intensity will be assessed at rest and during activity using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
Shoulder Range of Motion
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), immediately after the first session (acute effect), Week 2, Week 4 (end of intervention), and Month 3 follow-up
Shoulder range of motion (flexion, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation) will be assessed using a goniometer by recording active range of motion until pain onset, active range of motion despite pain, and passive end-range of motion.
1 secondary outcome
Shoulder Function
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4 (end of intervention), and Month 3 follow-up
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 12 Jan 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be shared because specific data-sharing agreements and governance procedures have not been established.
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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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Rigid Taping and Exercise Program in people with Shoulder Pain and Acromioclavicular Joint, run by Hacettepe University 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 4 inclusion and 7 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 Jan 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Irem Duzgun, PhD, Prof (+90 (312) 305 15 74, iremduzgun@hacettepe.edu.tr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Pain Intensity (time frame: Baseline (Week 0), immediately after the first session (acute effect), Week 4 (end of intervention), and Month 3 follow-up). The study lists 2 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 12 Jan 2026.