Scapular PainNCT07500571
The Correlation Between Neck Posture and Scapular Posture & the Effect Stabilization Exercises for the Scapula
A study testing Self-Exercise only and Professional exercise rehabilitation therapy in people with Scapular Pain, run by Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital at 1 site in South Korea.
Trial summary
Recently, many office workers and young people have postural abnormalities, including forward head posture (FHP) and rounded shoulder posture (RSP). Most of these patients often complain of pain in the entire scapular area, including the trapezius muscle. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 40 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Scapular Pain
- What is being tested?
- Self-Exercise only and Professional exercise rehabilitation therapy
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 56 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSouth Korea
- Study dates
- 2 Jan 2022to 30 Jun 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 20 to 40 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 20 and 40 years
- those with a C-shaped lordotic curve of the neck without scapular pain
- patients with Forward head posture and scapular pain
- Willing to participate and provide informed consent
Who cannot join
- Previous surgery on the affected shoulder or neck
- Disc space narrowing in the C-spine, or evidence of arthritis on plain x-rays of the neck and shoulders
- Frozen shoulders or suspected rotator cuff tears on ultrasound
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
South Korea1 site
Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital
Hwaseong-si, Hwaseong, 18450
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Scapular Balancing Exercise in Neck-scapular Dysfunction -Relationship Between Neck-scapular Posture ＆ Axioscapular Muscles-
Recently, many office workers and young people have postural abnormalities, including forward head posture (FHP) and rounded shoulder posture (RSP). Most of these patients often complain of pain in the entire scapular area, including the trapezius muscle. Few studies examined the effectiveness of intervention exercises often used by clinicians to correct posture in these patients through training protocols.
To compare and analyze the changes in scapular position between normal people and patients with FHP and RSP and to evaluate the effect of exercise therapy for 3 months in these patients, including clinical results and changes in scapular position and cervical angle through objective data.
- Conditions
- Scapular Pain
- Being tested
- Self-Exercise only, Professional exercise rehabilitation therapy
- Keywords
- Forward head posture, Rounded shoulder posture, Exercise rehabilitation protocol, 3D-shoulder CT
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Self-Exercise onlyBehavioural
Home-based self-directed exercise program without supervision
Professional exercise rehabilitation therapyBehavioural
10-week stretching and strengthening exercise program for a total of 20 sessions
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Group A; Normal Group | No intervention | Not described |
| Group B; Self-exercise Group | Experimental | Self-exercise only Receives: Behavioral: Self-Exercise only |
| Group C; Professional exercise rehabilitation therapy Group | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Professional exercise rehabilitation therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Scapular angle
Assessed by 3D- CT scan (Degrees)
Measured: Time Frame: Pre-excercise, 3 months after starting exercise
Secondary outcomes (3)
Pain Level
Measured by Visual Analog Scale (0-10 point, higher score indicates worse result)
Measured: Time Frame: Pre-excercise, 3 months after starting exercise
Functional Improvement of the Shoulder (ASES)
Measured by American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Score (0-100 point, higher score indicates better function)
Measured: Time Frame: Pre-excercise, 3 months after starting exercise
Functional Improvement of the Shoulder (SPADI)
Measured by Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (0-100 point, higher score indicates worse function)
Measured: Time Frame: Pre-excercise, 3 months after starting exercise
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Mar 2026
- Study start2 Jan 2022
- Primary completion31 Dec 2022
- Study completion30 Jun 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (6)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Scapular PainStudies 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
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Factorial
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator
- Enrolment
- 56 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, JEUNGYEOL JEONG, Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital
- Investigators
- JEUNGYEOL JEONG, Principal investigator, Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospita
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07500571
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Jeong Scapula protocol
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 12 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 30 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be shared.
Publications
Fathollahnejad K, Letafatkar A, Hadadnezhad M. The effect of manual therapy and stabilizing exercises on forward head and rounded shoulder postures: a six-week intervention with a one-month follow-up study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2019 Feb 18;20(1):86. doi: 10.1186/s12891-019-2438-y.
PubMed 30777064Ertekin E, Gunaydin OE. Neck pain in rounded shoulder posture: Clinico-radiologic correlation by shear wave elastography. Int J Clin Pract. 2021 Aug;75(8):e14240. doi: 10.1111/ijcp.14240. Epub 2021 May 26.
PubMed 33971068Cools AM, Dewitte V, Lanszweert F, Notebaert D, Roets A, Soetens B, Cagnie B, Witvrouw EE. Rehabilitation of scapular muscle balance: which exercises to prescribe? Am J Sports Med. 2007 Oct;35(10):1744-51. doi: 10.1177/0363546507303560. Epub 2007 Jul 2.
PubMed 17606671Cools AM, Declercq GA, Cambier DC, Mahieu NN, Witvrouw EE. Trapezius activity and intramuscular balance during isokinetic exercise in overhead athletes with impingement symptoms. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2007 Feb;17(1):25-33. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2006.00570.x. Epub 2006 Jun 15.
PubMed 16774650Borstad JD, Ludewig PM. The effect of long versus short pectoralis minor resting length on scapular kinematics in healthy individuals. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2005 Apr;35(4):227-38. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2005.35.4.227.
PubMed 15901124Borstad JD, Ludewig PM. Comparison of three stretches for the pectoralis minor muscle. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2006 May-Jun;15(3):324-30. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2005.08.011.
PubMed 16679233
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 30 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Scapular Balancing Exercise in Neck-scapular Dysfunction -Relationship Between Neck-scapular Posture ＆ Axioscapular Muscles-
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07500571
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Jeong Scapula protocol
- Conditions
- Scapular Pain
- Keywords
- Forward head posture, Rounded shoulder posture, Exercise rehabilitation protocol, 3D-shoulder CT
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 56 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 2 Jan 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 30 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.
Recently, many office workers and young people have postural abnormalities, including forward head posture (FHP) and rounded shoulder posture (RSP). Most of these patients often complain of pain in the entire scapular area, including the trapezius muscle. Few studies examined the effectiveness of intervention exercises often used by clinicians to correct posture in these patients through training protocols.
To compare and analyze the changes in scapular position between normal people and patients with FHP and RSP and to evaluate the effect of exercise therapy for 3 months in these patients, including clinical results and changes in scapular position and cervical angle through objective data.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Factorial
- Masking
- Single blind (investigator)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Group A; Normal Group | No intervention | – |
| Group B; Self-exercise Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Self-Exercise onlySelf-exercise only |
| Group C; Professional exercise rehabilitation therapy Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Professional exercise rehabilitation therapy |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age between 20 and 40 years
- those with a C-shaped lordotic curve of the neck without scapular pain
- patients with Forward head posture and scapular pain
- Willing to participate and provide informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Previous surgery on the affected shoulder or neck
- Disc space narrowing in the C-spine, or evidence of arthritis on plain x-rays of the neck and shoulders
- Frozen shoulders or suspected rotator cuff tears on ultrasound
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Exercise onlyHome-based self-directed exercise program without supervision | Behavioural | Group B; Self-exercise Group |
| Professional exercise rehabilitation therapy10-week stretching and strengthening exercise program for a total of 20 sessions | Behavioural | Group C; Professional exercise rehabilitation therapy Group |
Primary outcome
Scapular angle
Time frame: Time Frame: Pre-excercise, 3 months after starting exercise
Assessed by 3D- CT scan (Degrees)
3 secondary outcomes
Pain Level
Time frame: Time Frame: Pre-excercise, 3 months after starting exercise
Functional Improvement of the Shoulder (ASES)
Time frame: Time Frame: Pre-excercise, 3 months after starting exercise
Functional Improvement of the Shoulder (SPADI)
Time frame: Time Frame: Pre-excercise, 3 months after starting exercise
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 30 Mar 2026.
- Results publication: PubMed 30777064Fathollahnejad K, Letafatkar A, Hadadnezhad M. The effect of manual therapy and stabilizing exercises on forward head and rounded shoulder postures: a six-week intervention with a one-month follow-up study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2019 Feb 18;20(1):86. doi: 10.1186/s12891-019-2438-y.
- Results publication: PubMed 33971068Ertekin E, Gunaydin OE. Neck pain in rounded shoulder posture: Clinico-radiologic correlation by shear wave elastography. Int J Clin Pract. 2021 Aug;75(8):e14240. doi: 10.1111/ijcp.14240. Epub 2021 May 26.
- Results publication: PubMed 17606671Cools AM, Dewitte V, Lanszweert F, Notebaert D, Roets A, Soetens B, Cagnie B, Witvrouw EE. Rehabilitation of scapular muscle balance: which exercises to prescribe? Am J Sports Med. 2007 Oct;35(10):1744-51. doi: 10.1177/0363546507303560. Epub 2007 Jul 2.
- Results publication: PubMed 16774650Cools AM, Declercq GA, Cambier DC, Mahieu NN, Witvrouw EE. Trapezius activity and intramuscular balance during isokinetic exercise in overhead athletes with impingement symptoms. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2007 Feb;17(1):25-33. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2006.00570.x. Epub 2006 Jun 15.
- Results publication: PubMed 15901124Borstad JD, Ludewig PM. The effect of long versus short pectoralis minor resting length on scapular kinematics in healthy individuals. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2005 Apr;35(4):227-38. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2005.35.4.227.
- Results publication: PubMed 16679233Borstad JD, Ludewig PM. Comparison of three stretches for the pectoralis minor muscle. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2006 May-Jun;15(3):324-30. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2005.08.011.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be shared.
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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.
JEUNGYEOL JEONG principal investigator
Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospita
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Self-Exercise only and Professional exercise rehabilitation therapy in people with Scapular Pain, run by Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital at 1 site in South Korea.
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 3 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 30 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 South Korea. 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?
Scapular angle (time frame: Time Frame: Pre-excercise, 3 months after starting exercise). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07500571, which also lists 6 linked publications.
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 30 Mar 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 26 Oct 2026.