Partial Rotator Cuff TearsNCT07482735
Effect of Perturbation Exercise Protocol in Patients With Partial Rotator Cuff Tear: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial
A study testing Conventional physiotherapy and Perturbation exercise protocol in people with Partial Rotator Cuff Tears, run by Cumhuriyet University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Partial rotator cuff tears negatively affect shoulder stability, proprioception, and neuromuscular control. Perturbation-based rehabilitation has been shown to enhance reflex muscle activation and dynamic joint stabilization; however, randomized controlled studies investigating its effects in patients with partial… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Partial Rotator Cuff Tears
- What is being tested?
- Conventional physiotherapy and Perturbation exercise protocol
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 16 Mar 2026to 31 Oct 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
- Age 18-65 years
- Clinically diagnosed partial rotator cuff tear
- Suitable for physiotherapy
- Signed informed consent
Who cannot join
- Full-thickness rotator cuff tear
- Previous shoulder surgery
- History of fracture or dislocation
- Adhesive capsulitis
- Neurological deficit in upper extremity
- Professional athletes
- Active systemic rheumatologic disease
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Effects of Perturbation-Based Rehabilitation on Pain, Proprioception, Muscle Strength, Range of Motion and Functional Performance in Patients With Partial Rotator Cuff Tear: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial
Partial rotator cuff tears negatively affect shoulder stability, proprioception, and neuromuscular control. Perturbation-based rehabilitation has been shown to enhance reflex muscle activation and dynamic joint stabilization; however, randomized controlled studies investigating its effects in patients with partial rotator cuff tears are limited.
This single-blind randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the long-term effects of a perturbation exercise protocol on pain, proprioception, muscle strength, range of motion, and functional performance in individuals with partial rotator cuff tears.
Sixty participants will be randomly assigned to either a conventional physiotherapy group or a perturbation-based rehabilitation group. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, post-treatment (10 days), and one month follow-up.
Read the detailed description
Partial rotator cuff tears are common musculoskeletal disorders that negatively affect shoulder stability, neuromuscular control, muscle strength, and functional performance. Damage to mechanoreceptors within the rotator cuff complex may impair proprioceptive feedback and dynamic stabilization, leading to persistent pain and recurrent microtrauma.
Conventional physiotherapy programs primarily focus on pain reduction and strengthening exercises. However, neuromuscular control deficits and proprioceptive impairments may not be fully addressed through traditional rehabilitation approaches. Perturbation-based exercise training has been proposed as a rehabilitation strategy aimed at enhancing reflexive muscle activation, improving co-contraction patterns, and promoting dynamic joint stability through controlled external disturbances.
Although perturbation exercises have shown promising effects in other shoulder pathologies and postoperative populations, randomized controlled trials investigating their long-term effects in individuals with partial rotator cuff tears are limited.
This single-blind randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a perturbation-based rehabilitation program in addition to conventional physiotherapy on shoulder muscle strength (primary outcome), pain intensity, range of motion, proprioception, and functional performance. Sixty participants will be randomly assigned to either a control group receiving conventional therapy alone or an experimental group receiving additional perturbation exercises. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, post-treatment (10 days), and one-month follow-up.
The findings of this study may contribute to evidence-based rehabilitation strategies and help optimize treatment protocols for patients with partial rotator cuff tears.
- Conditions
- Partial Rotator Cuff Tears
- Being tested
- Conventional physiotherapy, Perturbation exercise protocol
- Keywords
- Partial rotator cuff tears, Perturbation-based rehabilitation, Proprioception, Muscle strength, Functional performance
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Conventional physiotherapyOther
Also called Non
Non
Perturbation exercise protocolOther
Non
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Group | Experimental | Conventional physiotherapy + perturbation exercise protocol Receives: Other: Conventional physiotherapy; Other: Perturbation exercise protocol |
| Control Group | Other | Conventional physiotherapy only Receives: Other: Conventional physiotherapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Shoulder muscle strength
Shoulder flexor, abductor, and medial and lateral rotator muscles muscle strength measured by Handheld Dynamometer
Measured: Baseline, Day 10 (post-treatment), 1 month follow-up
Secondary outcomes (5)
Shoulder Range of Motion
Measuremets for shoulder range of motion (flexion, abduction, and internal and external rotation) with a üniversal goniometer
Measured: Time Frame: Baseline, Day 10 (post-treatment), 1 month follow-up
Shoulder Pain
Measumets for shoulder pain with VAS
Measured: Baseline, Day 10 (post-treatment), 1 month follow-up
Proprioception
The target angle was 90 degrees of shoulder flexion. Joint repositioning errors for this angle were determined using a universal goniometer.
Measured: Baseline, Day 10 (post-treatment), 1 month follow-up
Functional Status
Functional status of the shoulder was determined using the Constant-Murley Score (CMS). The total CMS score is 100, comprising 15 for pain, 20 for activities of daily living, 40 for range of motion, and 25 for muscle strength. An increased CMS score indicates better function.
Measured: Baseline, Day 10 (post-treatment), 1 month follow-up
Dynamic balance
The Upper Quadrant Y Balance Test was used to measure the dynamic balance of the upper extremity.
Measured: Baseline, Day 10 (post-treatment), 1 month follow-up
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 Mar 2026
- Study start16 Mar 2026
- Primary completion31 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Oct 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Partial Rotator Cuff TearsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Paralel Randomized
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cumhuriyet University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Selvin BALKİ, Cumhuriyet University
- Investigators
- Selvin Balki, Assoc. prof. Dr, Study chair, Cumhuriyet UniversityAyşe Nur Engindoğan, MSc, Principal investigator, Cumhuriyet University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07482735
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SCU-FTR-SB-06
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 15 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 19 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 19 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Perturbation-Based Rehabilitation on Pain, Proprioception, Muscle Strength, Range of Motion and Functional Performance in Patients With Partial Rotator Cuff Tear: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07482735
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SCU-FTR-SB-06
- Conditions
- Partial Rotator Cuff Tears
- Keywords
- Partial rotator cuff tears, Perturbation-based rehabilitation, Proprioception, Muscle strength, Functional performance
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Cumhuriyet UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 16 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 19 Mar 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.
Partial rotator cuff tears negatively affect shoulder stability, proprioception, and neuromuscular control. Perturbation-based rehabilitation has been shown to enhance reflex muscle activation and dynamic joint stabilization; however, randomized controlled studies investigating its effects in patients with partial rotator cuff tears are limited.
This single-blind randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the long-term effects of a perturbation exercise protocol on pain, proprioception, muscle strength, range of motion, and functional performance in individuals with partial rotator cuff tears.
Sixty participants will be randomly assigned to either a conventional physiotherapy group or a perturbation-based rehabilitation group. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, post-treatment (10 days), and one month follow-up.
Detailed description
Partial rotator cuff tears are common musculoskeletal disorders that negatively affect shoulder stability, neuromuscular control, muscle strength, and functional performance. Damage to mechanoreceptors within the rotator cuff complex may impair proprioceptive feedback and dynamic stabilization, leading to persistent pain and recurrent microtrauma.
Conventional physiotherapy programs primarily focus on pain reduction and strengthening exercises. However, neuromuscular control deficits and proprioceptive impairments may not be fully addressed through traditional rehabilitation approaches. Perturbation-based exercise training has been proposed as a rehabilitation strategy aimed at enhancing reflexive muscle activation, improving co-contraction patterns, and promoting dynamic joint stability through controlled external disturbances.
Although perturbation exercises have shown promising effects in other shoulder pathologies and postoperative populations, randomized controlled trials investigating their long-term effects in individuals with partial rotator cuff tears are limited.
This single-blind randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a perturbation-based rehabilitation program in addition to conventional physiotherapy on shoulder muscle strength (primary outcome), pain intensity, range of motion, proprioception, and functional performance. Sixty participants will be randomly assigned to either a control group receiving conventional therapy alone or an experimental group receiving additional perturbation exercises. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, post-treatment (10 days), and one-month follow-up.
The findings of this study may contribute to evidence-based rehabilitation strategies and help optimize treatment protocols for patients with partial rotator cuff tears.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Paralel Randomized
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Group | Experimental | Other: Conventional physiotherapy, Other: Perturbation exercise protocolConventional physiotherapy + perturbation exercise protocol |
| Control Group | Other | Other: Conventional physiotherapyConventional physiotherapy only |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age 18-65 years
- Clinically diagnosed partial rotator cuff tear
- Suitable for physiotherapy
- Signed informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Full-thickness rotator cuff tear
- Previous shoulder surgery
- History of fracture or dislocation
- Adhesive capsulitis
- Neurological deficit in upper extremity
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional physiotherapyAlso: NonNon | Other | Control Group, Experimental Group |
| Perturbation exercise protocolNon | Other | Experimental Group |
Primary outcome
Shoulder muscle strength
Time frame: Baseline, Day 10 (post-treatment), 1 month follow-up
Shoulder flexor, abductor, and medial and lateral rotator muscles muscle strength measured by Handheld Dynamometer
5 secondary outcomes
Shoulder Range of Motion
Time frame: Time Frame: Baseline, Day 10 (post-treatment), 1 month follow-up
Shoulder Pain
Time frame: Baseline, Day 10 (post-treatment), 1 month follow-up
Proprioception
Time frame: Baseline, Day 10 (post-treatment), 1 month follow-up
Functional Status
Time frame: Baseline, Day 10 (post-treatment), 1 month follow-up
Dynamic balance
Time frame: Baseline, Day 10 (post-treatment), 1 month 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 19 Mar 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
Selvin Balki, Assoc. prof. Dr study chair
Cumhuriyet University
Ayşe Nur Engindoğan, MSc principal investigator
Cumhuriyet University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Conventional physiotherapy and Perturbation exercise protocol in people with Partial Rotator Cuff Tears, run by Cumhuriyet 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: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Mar 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?
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 muscle strength (time frame: Baseline, Day 10 (post-treatment), 1 month follow-up). 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 19 Mar 2026.