Rotator Cuff TendinosisNCT05613998
Physiotherapy Treatment of Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tendinopathies. Global Postural Reeducation or Aerobic Exercise?
A study testing GPR Group and Aerobic Exercice Group in people with Rotator Cuff Tendinosis, run by Universidad Francisco de Vitoria at 1 site in Spain.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to compare in participant population (patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy of the shoulder) the effect of a Global Postural Reeducation (GPR) program vs. a nonspecific therapeutic (aerobic) exercise program Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Rotator Cuff Tendinosis
- What is being tested?
- GPR Group and Aerobic Exercice Group
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 66 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSpain
- Study dates
- 30 Oct 2022to 10 Jan 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 60 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Shoulder pain with duration of at least 3 months
- Positive painful arc test during abduction
- At least one positive of the following tests: Hawkins-Kennedy test, Neer's sig, empty can test, drop arm or lift-off test
Who cannot join
- Cervical radiculopathy
- Moderate or severe degenerative arthropathy
- Complete rotator cuff tear
- History of shoulder or neck surgery
- History of shoulder fractures or dislocation
- Frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis
- Previous interventions with steroid injections or physiotherapy 2 months before the start of the program
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Global Postural Reeducation vs. Non-specific Therapeutic Exercise in the Treatment of Rotator Cuff Tendinopathies of the Shoulder
The goal of this clinical trial is to compare in participant population (patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy of the shoulder) the effect of a Global Postural Reeducation (GPR) program vs. a nonspecific therapeutic (aerobic) exercise program
Read the detailed description
Participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly distributed between group 1 "Global Postural Reeducation (GPR)", group 2 "exercise", or group 3 "no physical therapy intervention".
Group 1 participants will receive a physical therapy treatment using the GPR method for 6 weeks consisting of 1 weekly session lasting 40 min performing "frog on the ground" and "sitting" poses. Patients in this group will also perform self-postures at home daily for 10 minutes.
Group 2 participants perform training for 6 weeks using non-specific aerobic exercise consisting of a daily 20-minutes walk at a speed of 4-5 km/h.
Group 3 participants will not receive any physical therapy treatment and will serve as a control group.
- Conditions
- Rotator Cuff Tendinosis
- Being tested
- GPR Group, Aerobic Exercice Group
- Keywords
- Tendinopathy, Rotator Cuff, Global Postural Reeducation, Aerobic Exercice, Shoulder Pain, Quality of life
- Medical subject headings
- Rotator Cuff Injuries, Tendinopathy, Shoulder Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
GPR GroupOther
6-week treatment using the Global Postural Reeducation (GPR) method. 1 weekly session (45 min) with "frog on the ground" and "sitting" postures + daily home self-postures (10 min)
Aerobic Exercice GroupOther
6-week nonspecific aerobic exercise treatment. Participants will take a daily walk (20 min)
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1. Global Postural Reeducation (GPR) intervention | Experimental | Patients who will receive the Global Postural Reeducation (GPR) treatment protocol Receives: Other: GPR Group |
| Group 2. Non-specific Aerobic exercice intervention | Experimental | Patients who will receive the non-specific aerobic exercise treatment protocol Receives: Other: Aerobic Exercice Group |
| Group 3. No physiotherapy intervention | No intervention | Patients who will not receive physiotherapy treatment |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Changes in pain and disability after the treatment program
Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). Minimum value=0. Maximun value=100
Measured: Baseline, one week after the last sessio, 3 months and 6 months after the last session
Changes in pain and disability after the treatment program
The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (Quick-DASH). Minimum value=0. Maximun value=100
Measured: Baseline, one week after the last sessio, 3 months and 6 months after the last session
Secondary outcomes (4)
Changes in pain after the treatment program
Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Minimum value=0 (no pain). Maximun value=10 (the worst pain imaginable)
Measured: Baseline, one week after the last sessio, 3 months and 6 months after the last session
Changes in pressure pain sensitivity
Pressure Pain Thresholds (PPH)
Measured: Pre, Post inmediate, and follow-up at 3 and 6 months
Changes in Quality of Life
Short-Form 12 Health Status Questionnaire. The response options form Likert-type scales that evaluate intensity or frequency.
Two summary scores are reported from the SF-12 - a mental component score (MCS-12) and a physical component score (PCS-12). The scores may be reported as Z-scores (difference compared to the population average, measured in standard deviations). The United States population average PCS-12 and MCS-12 are both 50 points. The United States population standard deviation is 10 points. So each 10 increment of 10 points above or below 50, corresponds to one standard deviation away from the average.
Measured: Baseline, one week after the last session, 3 months and 6 months after the last session
Changes in Range of Motion
Goniometer
Measured: Baseline, one week after the last sessio, 3 months and 6 months after the last session
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Nov 2022
- Study start30 Oct 2022
- Primary completion31 Dec 2024
- Study completion10 Jan 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (8)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Rotator Cuff TendinosisStudies 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
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 66 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Universidad Francisco de Vitoria
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Javier Álvarez, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria
- Investigators
- Javier Alvarez-González, Principal investigator, Francisco de Vitoria University, Madrid, SpainArturo Morales-Muñiz, PhD, Study director, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, SpainAlfredo Bravo-Sánchez, PhD, Study chair, Francisco de Vitoria University, Madrid, Spain
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05613998
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- RPGEI
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 30 Oct 2022
- Last updated
- 22 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: All IPD that underlie results in a publication
Publications
van der Heijden GJ, van der Windt DA, de Winter AF. Physiotherapy for patients with soft tissue shoulder disorders: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials. BMJ. 1997 Jul 5;315(7099):25-30. doi: 10.1136/bmj.315.7099.25.
PubMed 9233322Marinko LN, Chacko JM, Dalton D, Chacko CC. The effectiveness of therapeutic exercise for painful shoulder conditions: a meta-analysis. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2011 Dec;20(8):1351-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2011.05.013. Epub 2011 Sep 1.
PubMed 21889366Littlewood C, Ashton J, Chance-Larsen K, May S, Sturrock B. Exercise for rotator cuff tendinopathy: a systematic review. Physiotherapy. 2012 Jun;98(2):101-9. doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2011.08.002. Epub 2011 Oct 5.
PubMed 22507359Kosek E, Ekholm J. Modulation of pressure pain thresholds during and following isometric contraction. Pain. 1995 Jun;61(3):481-486. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(94)00217-3.
PubMed 7478692Naugle KM, Fillingim RB, Riley JL 3rd. A meta-analytic review of the hypoalgesic effects of exercise. J Pain. 2012 Dec;13(12):1139-50. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2012.09.006. Epub 2012 Nov 8.
PubMed 23141188Amorim CS, Gracitelli ME, Marques AP, Alves VL. Effectiveness of global postural reeducation compared to segmental exercises on function, pain, and quality of life of patients with scapular dyskinesis associated with neck pain: a preliminary clinical trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2014 Jul-Aug;37(6):441-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2013.08.011. Epub 2014 Aug 3.
PubMed 25092553Heron SR, Woby SR, Thompson DP. Comparison of three types of exercise in the treatment of rotator cuff tendinopathy/shoulder impingement syndrome: A randomized controlled trial. Physiotherapy. 2017 Jun;103(2):167-173. doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2016.09.001. Epub 2016 Sep 21.
PubMed 27884499Kinsella R, Cowan SM, Watson L, Pizzari T. A comparison of isometric, isotonic concentric and isotonic eccentric exercises in the physiotherapy management of subacromial pain syndrome/rotator cuff tendinopathy: study protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2017 Nov 14;3:45. doi: 10.1186/s40814-017-0190-3. eCollection 2017.
PubMed 29163981
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Global Postural Reeducation vs. Non-specific Therapeutic Exercise in the Treatment of Rotator Cuff Tendinopathies of the Shoulder
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05613998
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- RPGEI
- Conditions
- Rotator Cuff Tendinosis
- Keywords
- Tendinopathy, Rotator Cuff, Global Postural Reeducation, Aerobic Exercice, Shoulder Pain, Quality of life
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 66 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Universidad Francisco de VitoriaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 Oct 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 10 Jan 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 14 Nov 2022 (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.
The goal of this clinical trial is to compare in participant population (patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy of the shoulder) the effect of a Global Postural Reeducation (GPR) program vs. a nonspecific therapeutic (aerobic) exercise program
Detailed description
Participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly distributed between group 1 "Global Postural Reeducation (GPR)", group 2 "exercise", or group 3 "no physical therapy intervention".
Group 1 participants will receive a physical therapy treatment using the GPR method for 6 weeks consisting of 1 weekly session lasting 40 min performing "frog on the ground" and "sitting" poses. Patients in this group will also perform self-postures at home daily for 10 minutes.
Group 2 participants perform training for 6 weeks using non-specific aerobic exercise consisting of a daily 20-minutes walk at a speed of 4-5 km/h.
Group 3 participants will not receive any physical therapy treatment and will serve as a control group.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1. Global Postural Reeducation (GPR) intervention | Experimental | Other: GPR GroupPatients who will receive the Global Postural Reeducation (GPR) treatment protocol |
| Group 2. Non-specific Aerobic exercice intervention | Experimental | Other: Aerobic Exercice GroupPatients who will receive the non-specific aerobic exercise treatment protocol |
| Group 3. No physiotherapy intervention | No intervention | –Patients who will not receive physiotherapy treatment |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Shoulder pain with duration of at least 3 months
- Positive painful arc test during abduction
- At least one positive of the following tests: Hawkins-Kennedy test, Neer's sig, empty can test, drop arm or lift-off test
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Cervical radiculopathy
- Moderate or severe degenerative arthropathy
- Complete rotator cuff tear
- History of shoulder or neck surgery
- History of shoulder fractures or dislocation
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 |
|---|---|---|
| GPR Group6-week treatment using the Global Postural Reeducation (GPR) method. 1 weekly session (45 min) with "frog on the ground" and "sitting" postures + daily home self-postures (10 min) | Other | Group 1. Global Postural Reeducation (GPR) intervention |
| Aerobic Exercice Group6-week nonspecific aerobic exercise treatment. Participants will take a daily walk (20 min) | Other | Group 2. Non-specific Aerobic exercice intervention |
Primary outcome
Changes in pain and disability after the treatment program
Time frame: Baseline, one week after the last sessio, 3 months and 6 months after the last session
Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). Minimum value=0. Maximun value=100
Changes in pain and disability after the treatment program
Time frame: Baseline, one week after the last sessio, 3 months and 6 months after the last session
The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (Quick-DASH). Minimum value=0. Maximun value=100
4 secondary outcomes
Changes in pain after the treatment program
Time frame: Baseline, one week after the last sessio, 3 months and 6 months after the last session
Changes in pressure pain sensitivity
Time frame: Pre, Post inmediate, and follow-up at 3 and 6 months
Changes in Quality of Life
Time frame: Baseline, one week after the last session, 3 months and 6 months after the last session
Changes in Range of Motion
Time frame: Baseline, one week after the last sessio, 3 months and 6 months after the last session
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 Jan 2026.
- Background: PubMed 9233322van der Heijden GJ, van der Windt DA, de Winter AF. Physiotherapy for patients with soft tissue shoulder disorders: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials. BMJ. 1997 Jul 5;315(7099):25-30. doi: 10.1136/bmj.315.7099.25.
- Background: PubMed 21889366Marinko LN, Chacko JM, Dalton D, Chacko CC. The effectiveness of therapeutic exercise for painful shoulder conditions: a meta-analysis. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2011 Dec;20(8):1351-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2011.05.013. Epub 2011 Sep 1.
- Background: PubMed 22507359Littlewood C, Ashton J, Chance-Larsen K, May S, Sturrock B. Exercise for rotator cuff tendinopathy: a systematic review. Physiotherapy. 2012 Jun;98(2):101-9. doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2011.08.002. Epub 2011 Oct 5.
- Background: PubMed 7478692Kosek E, Ekholm J. Modulation of pressure pain thresholds during and following isometric contraction. Pain. 1995 Jun;61(3):481-486. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(94)00217-3.
- Background: PubMed 23141188Naugle KM, Fillingim RB, Riley JL 3rd. A meta-analytic review of the hypoalgesic effects of exercise. J Pain. 2012 Dec;13(12):1139-50. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2012.09.006. Epub 2012 Nov 8.
- Background: PubMed 25092553Amorim CS, Gracitelli ME, Marques AP, Alves VL. Effectiveness of global postural reeducation compared to segmental exercises on function, pain, and quality of life of patients with scapular dyskinesis associated with neck pain: a preliminary clinical trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2014 Jul-Aug;37(6):441-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2013.08.011. Epub 2014 Aug 3.
- Background: PubMed 27884499Heron SR, Woby SR, Thompson DP. Comparison of three types of exercise in the treatment of rotator cuff tendinopathy/shoulder impingement syndrome: A randomized controlled trial. Physiotherapy. 2017 Jun;103(2):167-173. doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2016.09.001. Epub 2016 Sep 21.
- Background: PubMed 29163981Kinsella R, Cowan SM, Watson L, Pizzari T. A comparison of isometric, isotonic concentric and isotonic eccentric exercises in the physiotherapy management of subacromial pain syndrome/rotator cuff tendinopathy: study protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2017 Nov 14;3:45. doi: 10.1186/s40814-017-0190-3. eCollection 2017.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. All IPD that underlie results in a publication
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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.
Javier Alvarez-González principal investigator
Francisco de Vitoria University, Madrid, Spain
Arturo Morales-Muñiz, PhD study director
Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Alfredo Bravo-Sánchez, PhD study chair
Francisco de Vitoria University, Madrid, Spain
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing GPR Group and Aerobic Exercice Group in people with Rotator Cuff Tendinosis, run by Universidad Francisco de Vitoria at 1 site in Spain.
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 3 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 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 Spain. 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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?
Changes in pain and disability after the treatment program (time frame: Baseline, one week after the last sessio, 3 months and 6 months after the last session). 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?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05613998, which also lists 8 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 22 Jan 2026.