Posterior Shoulder TightnessNCT07757945
Acute Effects of Focal Vibration on Posterior Shoulder Tightness and Tissue Stiffness in Overhead Athletes
A study testing Focal Vibration in people with Posterior Shoulder Tightness, run by Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study aims to investigate the acute effects of focal vibration on posterior shoulder tightness, posterior shoulder muscle stiffness, and glenohumeral range of motion in overhead athletes. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Posterior Shoulder Tightness
- What is being tested?
- Focal Vibration
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 36 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 5 Feb 2026to 15 Sep 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 25 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Aged between 18 and 25 years. Regular participation in an overhead sport for at least 4 years. Participating in regular training at least 4 times per week. Willing to participate voluntarily in the study and able to provide written informed consent.
Who cannot join
- History of shoulder surgery within the previous 6 months. History of shoulder, neck, or upper extremity injury within the previous 3 months.
- Participation in intense upper extremity training within the previous 48 hours. Presence of infection, skin lesions, or open wounds around the shoulder region. Diagnosis of a systemic rheumatologic or neurological disease. Unwillingness to participate in the study or refusal to provide written informed consent.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Faculty of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, University of Health Sciences Ankara
Ankara
About this study
Official title: Acute Effects of Focal Vibration on Posterior Shoulder Tightness and Tissue Stiffness in Overhead Athletes: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial
This study aims to investigate the acute effects of focal vibration on posterior shoulder tightness, posterior shoulder muscle stiffness, and glenohumeral range of motion in overhead athletes. A total of 36 overhead athletes aged 18-25 years who have regularly participated in overhead sports for at least four years will be included. Participants will be randomly allocated to either the focal vibration group or the sham control group using block randomization. All outcome assessments will be performed immediately before and immediately after a single intervention session.
The primary outcome measure is posterior shoulder tightness, assessed using the Horizontal Adduction Test. Secondary outcome measures include posterior shoulder muscle stiffness, assessed using the IndentoPRO digital tissue indentometer, and passive glenohumeral internal and external rotation range of motion, measured using the GYKO inertial sensor.
The primary research question is whether focal vibration has an acute effect on posterior shoulder tightness, muscle stiffness, and glenohumeral range of motion in overhead athletes. It is hypothesized that participants receiving focal vibration will demonstrate greater reductions in posterior shoulder tightness and muscle stiffness, as well as greater improvements in glenohumeral range of motion, compared with those receiving the sham intervention.
Read the detailed description
Repetitive overhead sports activities lead to sport-specific adaptations in the glenohumeral joint and the surrounding soft tissues. One of the most common adaptations is posterior shoulder tightness, which has been associated with reduced glenohumeral range of motion, altered scapulohumeral rhythm, impaired shoulder biomechanics, and an increased risk of shoulder injury. In addition, changes in the mechanical properties of the posterior shoulder muscles may adversely affect shoulder function and athletic performance. Therefore, identifying effective, evidence-based interventions to reduce posterior shoulder tightness is of considerable clinical importance.
Focal vibration is a non-invasive therapeutic intervention that stimulates muscle spindles, enhances proprioceptive feedback, improves neuromuscular control, and may alter the mechanical properties of soft tissues. However, evidence regarding the acute effects of focal vibration on posterior shoulder tightness, muscle stiffness, and glenohumeral range of motion in overhead athletes remains limited.
This study is designed as a single-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial to investigate the acute effects of focal vibration on posterior shoulder tightness, posterior shoulder muscle stiffness, and glenohumeral internal and external rotation range of motion in overhead athletes. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the focal vibration group or the sham control group using block randomization. All assessments will be performed by the same investigator using standardized testing procedures immediately before and immediately after a single intervention session.
Posterior shoulder tightness will be assessed using the Horizontal Adduction Test. The stiffness of the posterior deltoid, infraspinatus, and teres minor muscles will be measured using the IndentoPRO digital tissue indentometer. Passive glenohumeral internal and external rotation range of motion will be assessed using the GYKO inertial sensor. Between-group and within-group differences will be analyzed using appropriate statistical methods.
This study aims to provide evidence regarding the acute effects of focal vibration on posterior shoulder tightness and the mechanical properties of posterior shoulder muscles, thereby contributing to evidence-based clinical practice in sports rehabilitation, performance enhancement, and shoulder injury prevention.
- Conditions
- Posterior Shoulder Tightness
- Being tested
- Focal Vibration, Sham Focal Vibration
- Keywords
- Posterior Shoulder Tightness, Shoulder Muscle Stiffness, Overhead Athletes
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Focal VibrationDevice
Also called Focal vibration therapy
A standardized single-session focal vibration intervention applied to the posterior shoulder muscles using fixed vibration parameters. The protocol is designed to evaluate the immediate effects of focal vibration on posterior shoulder tightness and related shoulder functions in overhead athletes and includes a sham-controlled comparison to distinguish treatment effects from placebo.
Sham Focal VibrationDevice
The sham focal vibration intervention is performed using the same device, application duration, and application site as the active intervention. However, the device is configured not to deliver therapeutic vibration. This approach is intended to maintain participant blinding and to determine whether the observed effects are attributable to focal vibration rather than placebo effects.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental: Focal Vibration Group | Experimental | Focal Vibration Participants receive a single session of focal vibration applied to the posterior shoulder muscles using a focal vibration device. The intervention is administered according to a standardized protocol. Posterior shoulder tightness, posterior shoulder muscle stiffness, and passive glenohumeral internal and external rotation range of motion are assessed immediately before and immediately after the intervention. Receives: Device: Focal Vibration |
| Sham Comparator: Sham Focal Vibration Group | Sham comparator | Sham Comparator: Sham Focal Vibration Participants receive a single session of sham focal vibration using the same device and treatment setup without delivering therapeutic vibration. Outcome measures, including posterior shoulder tightness, posterior shoulder muscle stiffness, and passive glenohumeral internal and external rotation range of motion, are assessed immediately before and immediately after the sham intervention using the same standardized protocol. Receives: Device: Sham Focal Vibration |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Posterior Shoulder Tightness (Horizontal Adduction Test)
Posterior shoulder tightness will be assessed using the Horizontal Adduction Test. Participants will lie in the supine position while the scapula is stabilized by the examiner. The shoulder will be passively moved into horizontal adduction until the first point of scapular movement is detected. The horizontal adduction angle will be measured using a digital inclinometer. Lower values indicate greater posterior shoulder tightness, whereas higher values indicate improved shoulder flexibility.
Measured: Immediately before and immediately after a single intervention session
Secondary outcomes (2)
Posterior Shoulder Muscle Stiffness
Posterior shoulder muscle stiffness will be assessed using the IndentoPRO digital tissue indentometer. Stiffness of the posterior deltoid, infraspinatus, and teres minor muscles will be measured under standardized conditions with participants in a relaxed position. Muscle stiffness will be recorded in N/mm, with higher values indicating greater tissue stiffness and lower values indicating reduced muscle stiffness.
Measured: Immediately before and immediately after a single intervention session
Glenohumeral Internal and External Rotation Range of Motion
Passive glenohumeral internal and external rotation range of motion will be assessed using the GYKO inertial sensor. Measurements will be performed with participants in the supine position, the shoulder abducted to 90° and the elbow flexed to 90°. The scapula will be stabilized during testing to ensure standardized measurements. Range of motion will be recorded in degrees (°). Higher values indicate greater glenohumeral rotational mobility.
Measured: Immediately before and immediately after a single intervention session
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Aug 2026
- Study start5 Feb 2026
- Primary completion30 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion15 Sep 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Posterior Shoulder TightnessStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Saglik Bilimleri UniversitesiThe 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
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Seda Uluşahin, Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07757945
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2026-013
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 6 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 11 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: There is no plan to share individual participant data (IPD) at this time.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 11 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Acute Effects of Focal Vibration on Posterior Shoulder Tightness and Tissue Stiffness in Overhead Athletes: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07757945
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2026-013
- Conditions
- Posterior Shoulder Tightness
- Keywords
- Posterior Shoulder Tightness, Shoulder Muscle Stiffness, Overhead Athletes
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Saglik Bilimleri UniversitesiUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 5 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 15 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 11 Aug 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 aims to investigate the acute effects of focal vibration on posterior shoulder tightness, posterior shoulder muscle stiffness, and glenohumeral range of motion in overhead athletes. A total of 36 overhead athletes aged 18-25 years who have regularly participated in overhead sports for at least four years will be included. Participants will be randomly allocated to either the focal vibration group or the sham control group using block randomization. All outcome assessments will be performed immediately before and immediately after a single intervention session.
The primary outcome measure is posterior shoulder tightness, assessed using the Horizontal Adduction Test. Secondary outcome measures include posterior shoulder muscle stiffness, assessed using the IndentoPRO digital tissue indentometer, and passive glenohumeral internal and external rotation range of motion, measured using the GYKO inertial sensor.
The primary research question is whether focal vibration has an acute effect on posterior shoulder tightness, muscle stiffness, and glenohumeral range of motion in overhead athletes. It is hypothesized that participants receiving focal vibration will demonstrate greater reductions in posterior shoulder tightness and muscle stiffness, as well as greater improvements in glenohumeral range of motion, compared with those receiving the sham intervention.
Detailed description
Repetitive overhead sports activities lead to sport-specific adaptations in the glenohumeral joint and the surrounding soft tissues. One of the most common adaptations is posterior shoulder tightness, which has been associated with reduced glenohumeral range of motion, altered scapulohumeral rhythm, impaired shoulder biomechanics, and an increased risk of shoulder injury. In addition, changes in the mechanical properties of the posterior shoulder muscles may adversely affect shoulder function and athletic performance. Therefore, identifying effective, evidence-based interventions to reduce posterior shoulder tightness is of considerable clinical importance.
Focal vibration is a non-invasive therapeutic intervention that stimulates muscle spindles, enhances proprioceptive feedback, improves neuromuscular control, and may alter the mechanical properties of soft tissues. However, evidence regarding the acute effects of focal vibration on posterior shoulder tightness, muscle stiffness, and glenohumeral range of motion in overhead athletes remains limited.
This study is designed as a single-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial to investigate the acute effects of focal vibration on posterior shoulder tightness, posterior shoulder muscle stiffness, and glenohumeral internal and external rotation range of motion in overhead athletes. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the focal vibration group or the sham control group using block randomization. All assessments will be performed by the same investigator using standardized testing procedures immediately before and immediately after a single intervention session.
Posterior shoulder tightness will be assessed using the Horizontal Adduction Test. The stiffness of the posterior deltoid, infraspinatus, and teres minor muscles will be measured using the IndentoPRO digital tissue indentometer. Passive glenohumeral internal and external rotation range of motion will be assessed using the GYKO inertial sensor. Between-group and within-group differences will be analyzed using appropriate statistical methods.
This study aims to provide evidence regarding the acute effects of focal vibration on posterior shoulder tightness and the mechanical properties of posterior shoulder muscles, thereby contributing to evidence-based clinical practice in sports rehabilitation, performance enhancement, and shoulder injury prevention.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental: Focal Vibration Group | Experimental | Device: Focal VibrationFocal Vibration Participants receive a single session of focal vibration applied to the posterior shoulder muscles using a focal vibration device. The intervention is administered according to a standardized protocol. Posterior shoulder tightness, posterior shoulder muscle stiffness, and passive glenohumeral internal and external rotation range of motion are assessed immediately before and immediately after the intervention. |
| Sham Comparator: Sham Focal Vibration Group | Sham comparator | Device: Sham Focal VibrationSham Comparator: Sham Focal Vibration Participants receive a single session of sham focal vibration using the same device and treatment setup without delivering therapeutic vibration. Outcome measures, including posterior shoulder tightness, posterior shoulder muscle stiffness, and passive glenohumeral internal and external rotation range of motion, are assessed immediately before and immediately after the sham intervention using the same standardized protocol. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Aged between 18 and 25 years. Regular participation in an overhead sport for at least 4 years. Participating in regular training at least 4 times per week. Willing to participate voluntarily in the study and able to provide written informed consent.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- History of shoulder surgery within the previous 6 months. History of shoulder, neck, or upper extremity injury within the previous 3 months.
- Participation in intense upper extremity training within the previous 48 hours. Presence of infection, skin lesions, or open wounds around the shoulder region. Diagnosis of a systemic rheumatologic or neurological disease. Unwillingness to participate in the study or refusal to provide written informed consent.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Focal VibrationAlso: Focal vibration therapyA standardized single-session focal vibration intervention applied to the posterior shoulder muscles using fixed vibration parameters. The protocol is designed to evaluate the immediate effects of focal vibration on posterior shoulder tightness and related shoulder functions in overhead athletes and includes a sham-controlled comparison to distinguish treatment effects from placebo. | Device | Experimental: Focal Vibration Group |
| Sham Focal VibrationThe sham focal vibration intervention is performed using the same device, application duration, and application site as the active intervention. However, the device is configured not to deliver therapeutic vibration. This approach is intended to maintain participant blinding and to determine whether the observed effects are attributable to focal vibration rather than placebo effects. | Device | Sham Comparator: Sham Focal Vibration Group |
Primary outcome
Posterior Shoulder Tightness (Horizontal Adduction Test)
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after a single intervention session
Posterior shoulder tightness will be assessed using the Horizontal Adduction Test. Participants will lie in the supine position while the scapula is stabilized by the examiner. The shoulder will be passively moved into horizontal adduction until the first point of scapular movement is detected. The horizontal adduction angle will be measured using a digital inclinometer. Lower values indicate greater posterior shoulder tightness, whereas higher values indicate improved shoulder flexibility.
2 secondary outcomes
Posterior Shoulder Muscle Stiffness
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after a single intervention session
Glenohumeral Internal and External Rotation Range of Motion
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after a single intervention session
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 11 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. There is no plan to share individual participant data (IPD) at this time.
Related trials for Posterior Shoulder Tightness
RecruitingObservational study
Relation Between Swimming Stroke Types And Scapular Dyskinesia In Swimmers: A Cross - Sectional Study
Scapular Dyskinesis, Scapuloshoulder Disorders
Not yet recruiting
Comparing Two Shoulder Treatments for Athletes
Posterior Capsule Tightness, Joint Diseases
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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Focal Vibration in people with Posterior Shoulder Tightness, run by Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi 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 1 inclusion and 2 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 11 Aug 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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?
Posterior Shoulder Tightness (Horizontal Adduction Test) (time frame: Immediately before and immediately after a single intervention session). 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 11 Aug 2026.