Supraspinatus TendinopathyHILTNCT07667998
High-intensity Laser Therapy Versus Extracorporeal Shock Wave on Tendon Thickness and Occupation Ratio In Patients With Chronic Supraspinatus Tendinopathy
A study testing High-intensity Laser Therapy, Extracorporeal Shock Wave and conventional therapy in people with Supraspinatus Tendinopathy, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
Trial summary
This study will be conducted to investigate the difference between high-intensity laser and extracorporeal shock wave on supraspinatus tendon thickness, subacromial space, occupation ratio, shoulder pain intensity, shoulder range of motion (ROM), hand strength, and functional disability in patients with chronic… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 50 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Supraspinatus Tendinopathy
- What is being tested?
- High-intensity Laser Therapy, Extracorporeal Shock Wave and conventional therapy
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 69 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEgypt
- Study dates
- 30 Jun 2026to 25 Apr 2027
- 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 50 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Patients from 18 to 50 years old of both genders.
- Unilateral Chronic Supraspinatus Tendinitis in dominant side
- BMI 18.5-24.9
- Tenderness is found over the supraspinatus as it passes subacromial and anterolateral The patient will report pain with active shoulder elevation in the scapular plane (eg: welders, plate workers, slaughterhouse workers and overhead playing athletes)
- The patient will report pain with resisted isometric abduction.
- The patient will report positive Jobe's test (empty can test)
Who cannot join
- Post shoulder surgery, traumatic incidents
- Partial tears at surgery
- Massive retracted tears at surgery
- Frozen shoulder Rotator cuff tear
- Glenohumeral or acromioclavicular arthritis
- Implanted pacemaker
- Pregnancy
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Egypt1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Cairo University - faculty of physical therapy outpatient clinic
Cairo
Mahmoud Mamdouh, 01001080842, Shaaban.m@outlook.com
About this study
This study will be conducted to investigate the difference between high-intensity laser and extracorporeal shock wave on supraspinatus tendon thickness, subacromial space, occupation ratio, shoulder pain intensity, shoulder range of motion (ROM), hand strength, and functional disability in patients with chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy.
Read the detailed description
Supraspinatus tendinopathy is a common cause of shoulder pain and dysfunction due to irritation, inflammation, or degeneration of the supraspinatus tendon in the rotator cuff. It is caused by repetitive overhead movements and is characterized by pain, weakness, and a limited range of motion, especially when reaching or lifting the arm. Recently, studies have demonstrated that HILT is useful for treating a variety of shoulder impairments, including subacromial impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tendinopathy, and adhesive capsulitis.Shock wave is an effective and noninvasive method of reducing pain and increasing ROM and functional status without the need for surgery; it has been successfully utilized to treat tendinopathy over the past 20 years.There is a gap in available literature about comparing the high-intensity laser and extracorporeal shock wave in patients withchronic supraspinatus tendonitis. So this study may add a piece of information to the physiotherapists in the government hospitals and the private clinics about showing the difference between the application of High Intensity laser and extracorporeal shock wave in patients with chronic supraspinatus tendinitis
- Conditions
- Supraspinatus Tendinopathy
- Being tested
- High-intensity Laser Therapy, Extracorporeal Shock Wave, conventional therapy
- Keywords
- High-intensity Laser Therapy, Extracorporeal Shock Wave, Tendon Thickness, Chronic Supraspinatus Tendinopathy
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
High-intensity Laser TherapyOther
the patients will receive HILT with peak power 3kW, intensity 15000W/cm and energy per pulse 350 mj) at supraspinatus tendenopathy.The treatment consisted of 3 phases in each session. the initial phase will be rapid manual scanning (100 cm2/30s) of the anterior joint line of the shoulder with one shot of 850 mj at frequency of 30 Hz. The scanning will be performed parallel to the joint line, with the patient arm internally rotated on the posterior scan and externally rotated on the anterior scan. the intermediate phase will be a fixed scan phase , with one -shot emission of 350mj at a frequency of 20-25Hz. plus conventional therapy
Extracorporeal Shock WaveOther
patients will be sitting with shoulder abduction at 45 and elbow flexed and the forearm rested on flat surface and shock wave applicator directed in the most tender point near the insertion at the greater tubrosity under acromion with 2000 impulses, and energy flex density of 0.22mj/mm , pulse rate 10/sec and frequency 1-15 Hz plus conventional therapy
conventional therapyOther
will receive Conventional physical therapy in form of stretching exercise of posterior shoulder capsule, passive stretching exercise, will be done only 3 times with holding time 30 sec and 10 sec rest period between repetitions , strengthing exercise consists of 3 exercises all have been recommended as essential for any shoulder rehabilitation program. These exercise include shoulder flexion, scaption and horizontal extension. for each exercise, a 10-repetition maximum for 3 sets with 60 sec rest between every set + TENS and hot back.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| High-intensity Laser Therapy | Experimental | Twenty-three patients with chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy will receive high-intensity laser and conventional physiotherapy twice a week for six weeks Receives: Other: High-intensity Laser Therapy; Other: conventional therapy |
| Extracorporeal Shock Wave | Experimental | Twenty-three patients with chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy will receive extracorporeal shock wave and conventional physiotherapy twice a week for six weeks Receives: Other: Extracorporeal Shock Wave; Other: conventional therapy |
| conventional therapy | Active comparator | Twenty-three patients with chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy will receive conventional physiotherapy twice a week for six weeks Receives: Other: conventional therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
supraspinatous tendon thickness
supraspinatus tendon thickness will be assess by ultrasonography.The tendon often appears swollen or thickened (frequently > 6 to 7 mm)
Measured: up to 6 weeks
supracromial space
supracromial space will be measured by ultrasonography. A normal resting subacromial space generally ranges from 9 to 11 mm. A measurement of less than 6 mm is often pathological
Measured: up to 6 weeks
occupation ratio of subacromial space
The ratio comparing the thickness of the supraspinatus tendon to the overall acromiohumeral distance. An increased occupation ratio (i.e., a thickened tendon taking up too much of the space) indicates a higher risk of impingement
Measured: up to 6 weeks
Secondary outcomes (4)
pain intensity
visuala analogue scale will be used to assess pain intesity. it is a line of 100 mm.The ends are labeled with extremes, such as "No pain" at 0 mm and "Worst pain imaginable" at 100 mm.
Measured: up to 6 weeks
shoulder range of motion
the range of motion will be measured by electrogoniometer
Measured: up to six weeks
upper limb disability
The QuickDASH will be used to assess upper limb function.the QuickDASH is an 11-item questionnaire used to measure physical function and symptoms in people with upper limb disorders. Scores range from 0 (no disability) to 100 (most severe disability).
Measured: up to six weeks
supraspinatus muscle strength
supraspinatus muscle strength will be measured by handheld dynamometer
Measured: up to six weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Jun 2026
- Study start30 Jun 2026
- Primary completion25 Apr 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion25 Apr 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Supraspinatus TendinopathyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Cairo 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
- High-intensity Laser Therapy and Extracorporeal Shock Wave
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 69 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Mahmoud Mamdouh Ahmed Shaaban, Cairo University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07667998
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- P.T.REC/012/006491
- Acronym
- HILT
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 19 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 4 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- High-intensity Laser Therapy Versus Extracorporeal Shock Wave on Tendon Thickness and Occupation Ratio In Patients With Chronic Supraspinatus Tendinopathy
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07667998
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HILT / P.T.REC/012/006491
- Conditions
- Supraspinatus Tendinopathy
- Keywords
- High-intensity Laser Therapy, Extracorporeal Shock Wave, Tendon Thickness, Chronic Supraspinatus Tendinopathy
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 69 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 25 Apr 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 25 Apr 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 25 Jun 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 be conducted to investigate the difference between high-intensity laser and extracorporeal shock wave on supraspinatus tendon thickness, subacromial space, occupation ratio, shoulder pain intensity, shoulder range of motion (ROM), hand strength, and functional disability in patients with chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy.
Detailed description
Supraspinatus tendinopathy is a common cause of shoulder pain and dysfunction due to irritation, inflammation, or degeneration of the supraspinatus tendon in the rotator cuff. It is caused by repetitive overhead movements and is characterized by pain, weakness, and a limited range of motion, especially when reaching or lifting the arm. Recently, studies have demonstrated that HILT is useful for treating a variety of shoulder impairments, including subacromial impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tendinopathy, and adhesive capsulitis.Shock wave is an effective and noninvasive method of reducing pain and increasing ROM and functional status without the need for surgery; it has been successfully utilized to treat tendinopathy over the past 20 years.There is a gap in available literature about comparing the high-intensity laser and extracorporeal shock wave in patients withchronic supraspinatus tendonitis. So this study may add a piece of information to the physiotherapists in the government hospitals and the private clinics about showing the difference between the application of High Intensity laser and extracorporeal shock wave in patients with chronic supraspinatus tendinitis
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- High-intensity Laser Therapy and Extracorporeal Shock Wave
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| High-intensity Laser Therapy | Experimental | Other: High-intensity Laser Therapy, Other: conventional therapyTwenty-three patients with chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy will receive high-intensity laser and conventional physiotherapy twice a week for six weeks |
| Extracorporeal Shock Wave | Experimental | Other: Extracorporeal Shock Wave, Other: conventional therapyTwenty-three patients with chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy will receive extracorporeal shock wave and conventional physiotherapy twice a week for six weeks |
| conventional therapy | Active comparator | Other: conventional therapyTwenty-three patients with chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy will receive conventional physiotherapy twice a week for six weeks |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 50 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Patients from 18 to 50 years old of both genders.
- Unilateral Chronic Supraspinatus Tendinitis in dominant side
- BMI 18.5-24.9
- Tenderness is found over the supraspinatus as it passes subacromial and anterolateral The patient will report pain with active shoulder elevation in the scapular plane (eg: welders, plate workers, slaughterhouse workers and overhead playing athletes)
- The patient will report pain with resisted isometric abduction.
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Post shoulder surgery, traumatic incidents
- Partial tears at surgery
- Massive retracted tears at surgery
- Frozen shoulder Rotator cuff tear
- Glenohumeral or acromioclavicular arthritis
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 |
|---|---|---|
| High-intensity Laser Therapythe patients will receive HILT with peak power 3kW, intensity 15000W/cm and energy per pulse 350 mj) at supraspinatus tendenopathy.The treatment consisted of 3 phases in each session. the initial phase will be rapid manual scanning (100 cm2/30s) of the anterior joint line of the shoulder with one shot of 850 mj at frequency of 30 Hz. The scanning will be performed parallel to the joint line, with the patient arm internally rotated on the posterior scan and externally rotated on the anterior scan. the intermediate phase will be a fixed scan phase , with one -shot emission of 350mj at a frequency of 20-25Hz. plus conventional therapy | Other | High-intensity Laser Therapy |
| Extracorporeal Shock Wavepatients will be sitting with shoulder abduction at 45 and elbow flexed and the forearm rested on flat surface and shock wave applicator directed in the most tender point near the insertion at the greater tubrosity under acromion with 2000 impulses, and energy flex density of 0.22mj/mm , pulse rate 10/sec and frequency 1-15 Hz plus conventional therapy | Other | Extracorporeal Shock Wave |
| conventional therapywill receive Conventional physical therapy in form of stretching exercise of posterior shoulder capsule, passive stretching exercise, will be done only 3 times with holding time 30 sec and 10 sec rest period between repetitions , strengthing exercise consists of 3 exercises all have been recommended as essential for any shoulder rehabilitation program. These exercise include shoulder flexion, scaption and horizontal extension. for each exercise, a 10-repetition maximum for 3 sets with 60 sec rest between every set + TENS and hot back. | Other | Extracorporeal Shock Wave, High-intensity Laser Therapy, conventional therapy |
Primary outcome
supraspinatous tendon thickness
Time frame: up to 6 weeks
supraspinatus tendon thickness will be assess by ultrasonography.The tendon often appears swollen or thickened (frequently > 6 to 7 mm)
supracromial space
Time frame: up to 6 weeks
supracromial space will be measured by ultrasonography. A normal resting subacromial space generally ranges from 9 to 11 mm. A measurement of less than 6 mm is often pathological
occupation ratio of subacromial space
Time frame: up to 6 weeks
The ratio comparing the thickness of the supraspinatus tendon to the overall acromiohumeral distance. An increased occupation ratio (i.e., a thickened tendon taking up too much of the space) indicates a higher risk of impingement
4 secondary outcomes
pain intensity
Time frame: up to 6 weeks
shoulder range of motion
Time frame: up to six weeks
upper limb disability
Time frame: up to six weeks
supraspinatus muscle strength
Time frame: up to six weeks
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 4 Nov 2026.
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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 High-intensity Laser Therapy, Extracorporeal Shock Wave and conventional therapy in people with Supraspinatus Tendinopathy, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
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 6 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 4 Nov 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 Egypt. 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 mahmoud shaaban, phd (01001080842, shaabab.m@outlook.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
supraspinatous tendon thickness (time frame: up to 6 weeks). The study lists 3 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 4 Nov 2026.