Shoulder ImpingementNCT06006351
Percussive Therapy Added to Exercise in Shoulder Impingement Syndromesyndrome
A study testing Standardized exercise program and Theragun PRO Plus percussive therapy in people with Shoulder Impingement, run by Uskudar University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This randomized controlled trial investigates whether adding percussive massage therapy with a hand-held device (Theragun PRO Plus) to a standardized exercise program provides additional benefit for upper-extremity function and instrumental activities of daily living in adults aged 25-50 years with shoulder… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 25 to 50 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Shoulder Impingement
- What is being tested?
- Standardized exercise program and Theragun PRO Plus percussive therapy
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine, Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 54 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2023to 1 Dec 2023
- 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 25 to 50 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 25-50 years
- Clinical diagnosis of shoulder impingement syndrome (positive Neer and/or Hawkins-Kennedy test) confirmed by a physician
- Shoulder pain for at least 1 month
- Pain intensity ≥3 on a 0-10 visual analogue scale at screening
- Medically fit to participate in an exercise program
- Written informed consent
Who cannot join
- History of shoulder surgery
- Full-thickness rotator cuff tear or marked glenohumeral instability
- Serious neurological or rheumatological disease affecting shoulder function
- Any contraindication to percussive massage or exercise
- Shoulder injection within the previous [3] months or concurrent participation in another shoulder rehabilitation program
- Cognitive, mental, or psychological condition preventing completion of the assessments
Show all 9Show fewer
- Refusal to participate
- Having cognitive, mental or psychological problems.
- Having a condition that prevents him from exercising.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Effects of Theragun PRO Plus Percussive Therapy Added to Exercise on Upper-Extremity Function and Activities of Daily Living in Individuals With Shoulder Impingement Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This randomized controlled trial investigates whether adding percussive massage therapy with a hand-held device (Theragun PRO Plus) to a standardized exercise program provides additional benefit for upper-extremity function and instrumental activities of daily living in adults aged 25-50 years with shoulder impingement syndrome. Sixty participants are randomly allocated (1:1) to exercise alone or exercise plus percussive therapy. Both groups receive the same supervised exercise program three times per week for eight weeks (24 sessions, approximately 30-35 minutes per session). The combined group additionally receives 6 minutes of percussive therapy (2 minutes each over the posterior deltoid, infraspinatus, and upper trapezius) after each exercise session. Outcomes are assessed at baseline and at the end of week 8 by an assessor blinded to group allocation. The primary outcome is the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score; the secondary outcome is the Lawton-Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale.
Read the detailed description
Design: single-center, two-arm, parallel-group, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial with 1:1 allocation. Randomization: computer-generated sequence with randomly ordered permuted blocks of 4 and 6, prepared by an independent investigator; allocation concealed in sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes opened after baseline assessment.
Exercise program (both groups): pendulum exercises (2 × 30 s per direction), posterior capsule cross-body stretch (3 × 30 s), sleeper stretch (3 × 20 s; omitted if it increases anterior shoulder pain), scapular wall push-up plus (2 × 10), external and internal rotation with elastic band (2 × 12 each), scapular retraction row with band (2 × 12), and scaption (2 × 10). Resistance is progressed every two weeks (weeks 1-2: low resistance, 2 × 10-12; weeks 3-4: light-to-moderate, 2 × 12; weeks 5-6: moderate, 3 × 10-12; weeks 7-8: highest tolerated, 3 × 12).
Percussive therapy (combined group only): Theragun PRO Plus (Therabody, Inc.) with the standard soft round attachment, level 1 (approximately 29 Hz, 1750 percussions per minute), applied with light pressure and continuous gliding movements over the muscle bellies of the posterior deltoid, infraspinatus, and upper trapezius for 2 minutes each (6 minutes per session), immediately after exercise, three days per week for eight weeks. Bony prominences, tender tendon sites, the axilla, the anterior/lateral neck, and neurovascular structures are avoided. Adverse events are monitored at every session.
Sample size: a priori calculation in G*Power 3.1 (two independent means, two-tailed, d = 0.80 as a planning assumption, alpha 0.05, power 0.80) gave 26 per group; 30 per group were enrolled to allow for 13% attrition. Primary analysis: ANCOVA of week-8 DASH with baseline DASH as covariate.
- Conditions
- Shoulder Impingement
- Being tested
- Standardized exercise program, Theragun PRO Plus percussive therapy
- Medical subject headings
- Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Standardized exercise programOther
Pendulum exercises, posterior capsule (cross-body) stretch, sleeper stretch, scapular wall push-up plus, external and internal rotation with elastic band, scapular retraction (row) with band, and scaption. Resistance progressed every two weeks according to tolerance. Delivered individually under physiotherapist supervision.
Theragun PRO Plus percussive therapyDevice
Hand-held percussive massage device (Theragun PRO Plus, Therabody, Inc.) with standard soft round attachment, level 1 (approximately 29.2 Hz, 1750 percussions/min), applied with light pressure and gliding movements over the posterior deltoid, infraspinatus, and upper trapezius muscle bellies, 2 minutes each (6 minutes total), after exercise, 3 days/week for 8 weeks (24 sessions).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise alone | Active comparator | Standardized supervised exercise program for shoulder impingement syndrome (stretching, scapular control, and progressive rotator cuff strengthening), approximately 30-35 minutes per session, 3 sessions per week for 8 weeks (24 sessions). Receives: Other: Standardized exercise program |
| Exercise plus percussive therapy | Experimental | The same standardized exercise program plus 6 minutes of percussive massage therapy with the Theragun PRO Plus device (level 1, approximately 29 Hz; 2 minutes each over the posterior deltoid, infraspinatus, and upper trapezius) applied immediately after each exercise session, 3 sessions per week for 8 weeks. Receives: Other: Standardized exercise program; Device: Theragun PRO Plus percussive therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change from baseline in Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score at week 8
The DASH is a 30-item self-reported questionnaire of upper-extremity symptoms and function. Items are scored 1-5 and transformed to a 0-100 scale; higher scores indicate greater disability. The Turkish version is used. Week-8 scores are analyzed with ANCOVA adjusted for baseline score.
Measured: Baseline and end of week 8 (immediately after the 8-week intervention)
Secondary outcomes (1)
Change from baseline in Lawton-Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale score at week 8
Eight-item scale covering telephone use, shopping, food preparation, housekeeping, laundry, transportation, medication management, and finances; each item scored 0 (dependent) or 1 (independent); total 0-8, higher scores indicate greater independence. Turkish version is used.
Measured: Baseline and end of week 8
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Aug 2023
- Study start1 Sep 2023
- Primary completion1 Dec 2023
- Study completion1 Dec 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (5)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Shoulder ImpingementStudies 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
- 54 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Uskudar University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Doç.Dr.Ömer Şevgin, Uskudar University
- Investigators
- Tuba KARACA, Study chair, Uskudar University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06006351
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Uskudar54
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 17 Aug 2023
- Last updated
- 4 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be shared publicly because of ethical and privacy restrictions; de-identified data may be available from the principal investigator upon reasonable request.
Publications
Consigliere P, Haddo O, Levy O, Sforza G. Subacromial impingement syndrome: management challenges. Orthop Res Rev. 2018 Oct 23;10:83-91. doi: 10.2147/ORR.S157864. eCollection 2018.
PubMed 30774463Ellenbecker TS, Cools A. Rehabilitation of shoulder impingement syndrome and rotator cuff injuries: an evidence-based review. Br J Sports Med. 2010 Apr;44(5):319-27. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2009.058875.
PubMed 20371557Marik TL, Roll SC. Effectiveness of Occupational Therapy Interventions for Musculoskeletal Shoulder Conditions: A Systematic Review. Am J Occup Ther. 2017 Jan/Feb;71(1):7101180020p1-7101180020p11. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2017.023127.
PubMed 28027039Gebremariam L, Hay EM, van der Sande R, Rinkel WD, Koes BW, Huisstede BM. Subacromial impingement syndrome--effectiveness of physiotherapy and manual therapy. Br J Sports Med. 2014 Aug;48(16):1202-8. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2012-091802. Epub 2013 Nov 11.
PubMed 24217037Steuri R, Sattelmayer M, Elsig S, Kolly C, Tal A, Taeymans J, Hilfiker R. Effectiveness of conservative interventions including exercise, manual therapy and medical management in adults with shoulder impingement: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. Br J Sports Med. 2017 Sep;51(18):1340-1347. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-096515. Epub 2017 Jun 19.
PubMed 28630217
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
- Effects of Theragun PRO Plus Percussive Therapy Added to Exercise on Upper-Extremity Function and Activities of Daily Living in Individuals With Shoulder Impingement Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06006351
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Uskudar54
- Conditions
- Shoulder Impingement
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Uskudar UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Dec 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Dec 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 23 Aug 2023 (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 randomized controlled trial investigates whether adding percussive massage therapy with a hand-held device (Theragun PRO Plus) to a standardized exercise program provides additional benefit for upper-extremity function and instrumental activities of daily living in adults aged 25-50 years with shoulder impingement syndrome. Sixty participants are randomly allocated (1:1) to exercise alone or exercise plus percussive therapy. Both groups receive the same supervised exercise program three times per week for eight weeks (24 sessions, approximately 30-35 minutes per session). The combined group additionally receives 6 minutes of percussive therapy (2 minutes each over the posterior deltoid, infraspinatus, and upper trapezius) after each exercise session. Outcomes are assessed at baseline and at the end of week 8 by an assessor blinded to group allocation. The primary outcome is the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score; the secondary outcome is the Lawton-Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale.
Detailed description
Design: single-center, two-arm, parallel-group, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial with 1:1 allocation. Randomization: computer-generated sequence with randomly ordered permuted blocks of 4 and 6, prepared by an independent investigator; allocation concealed in sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes opened after baseline assessment.
Exercise program (both groups): pendulum exercises (2 × 30 s per direction), posterior capsule cross-body stretch (3 × 30 s), sleeper stretch (3 × 20 s; omitted if it increases anterior shoulder pain), scapular wall push-up plus (2 × 10), external and internal rotation with elastic band (2 × 12 each), scapular retraction row with band (2 × 12), and scaption (2 × 10). Resistance is progressed every two weeks (weeks 1-2: low resistance, 2 × 10-12; weeks 3-4: light-to-moderate, 2 × 12; weeks 5-6: moderate, 3 × 10-12; weeks 7-8: highest tolerated, 3 × 12).
Percussive therapy (combined group only): Theragun PRO Plus (Therabody, Inc.) with the standard soft round attachment, level 1 (approximately 29 Hz, 1750 percussions per minute), applied with light pressure and continuous gliding movements over the muscle bellies of the posterior deltoid, infraspinatus, and upper trapezius for 2 minutes each (6 minutes per session), immediately after exercise, three days per week for eight weeks. Bony prominences, tender tendon sites, the axilla, the anterior/lateral neck, and neurovascular structures are avoided. Adverse events are monitored at every session.
Sample size: a priori calculation in G*Power 3.1 (two independent means, two-tailed, d = 0.80 as a planning assumption, alpha 0.05, power 0.80) gave 26 per group; 30 per group were enrolled to allow for 13% attrition. Primary analysis: ANCOVA of week-8 DASH with baseline DASH as covariate.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise alone | Active comparator | Other: Standardized exercise programStandardized supervised exercise program for shoulder impingement syndrome (stretching, scapular control, and progressive rotator cuff strengthening), approximately 30-35 minutes per session, 3 sessions per week for 8 weeks (24 sessions). |
| Exercise plus percussive therapy | Experimental | Other: Standardized exercise program, Device: Theragun PRO Plus percussive therapyThe same standardized exercise program plus 6 minutes of percussive massage therapy with the Theragun PRO Plus device (level 1, approximately 29 Hz; 2 minutes each over the posterior deltoid, infraspinatus, and upper trapezius) applied immediately after each exercise session, 3 sessions per week for 8 weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 25 to 50 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Age 25-50 years
- Clinical diagnosis of shoulder impingement syndrome (positive Neer and/or Hawkins-Kennedy test) confirmed by a physician
- Shoulder pain for at least 1 month
- Pain intensity ≥3 on a 0-10 visual analogue scale at screening
- Medically fit to participate in an exercise program
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- History of shoulder surgery
- Full-thickness rotator cuff tear or marked glenohumeral instability
- Serious neurological or rheumatological disease affecting shoulder function
- Any contraindication to percussive massage or exercise
- Shoulder injection within the previous [3] months or concurrent participation in another shoulder rehabilitation program
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Standardized exercise programPendulum exercises, posterior capsule (cross-body) stretch, sleeper stretch, scapular wall push-up plus, external and internal rotation with elastic band, scapular retraction (row) with band, and scaption. Resistance progressed every two weeks according to tolerance. Delivered individually under physiotherapist supervision. | Other | Exercise alone, Exercise plus percussive therapy |
| Theragun PRO Plus percussive therapyHand-held percussive massage device (Theragun PRO Plus, Therabody, Inc.) with standard soft round attachment, level 1 (approximately 29.2 Hz, 1750 percussions/min), applied with light pressure and gliding movements over the posterior deltoid, infraspinatus, and upper trapezius muscle bellies, 2 minutes each (6 minutes total), after exercise, 3 days/week for 8 weeks (24 sessions). | Device | Exercise plus percussive therapy |
Primary outcome
Change from baseline in Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score at week 8
Time frame: Baseline and end of week 8 (immediately after the 8-week intervention)
The DASH is a 30-item self-reported questionnaire of upper-extremity symptoms and function. Items are scored 1-5 and transformed to a 0-100 scale; higher scores indicate greater disability. The Turkish version is used. Week-8 scores are analyzed with ANCOVA adjusted for baseline score.
1 secondary outcome
Change from baseline in Lawton-Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale score at week 8
Time frame: Baseline and end of week 8
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 4 Nov 2026.
- Background: PubMed 30774463Consigliere P, Haddo O, Levy O, Sforza G. Subacromial impingement syndrome: management challenges. Orthop Res Rev. 2018 Oct 23;10:83-91. doi: 10.2147/ORR.S157864. eCollection 2018.
- Background: PubMed 20371557Ellenbecker TS, Cools A. Rehabilitation of shoulder impingement syndrome and rotator cuff injuries: an evidence-based review. Br J Sports Med. 2010 Apr;44(5):319-27. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2009.058875.
- Background: PubMed 28027039Marik TL, Roll SC. Effectiveness of Occupational Therapy Interventions for Musculoskeletal Shoulder Conditions: A Systematic Review. Am J Occup Ther. 2017 Jan/Feb;71(1):7101180020p1-7101180020p11. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2017.023127.
- Background: PubMed 24217037Gebremariam L, Hay EM, van der Sande R, Rinkel WD, Koes BW, Huisstede BM. Subacromial impingement syndrome--effectiveness of physiotherapy and manual therapy. Br J Sports Med. 2014 Aug;48(16):1202-8. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2012-091802. Epub 2013 Nov 11.
- Background: PubMed 28630217Steuri R, Sattelmayer M, Elsig S, Kolly C, Tal A, Taeymans J, Hilfiker R. Effectiveness of conservative interventions including exercise, manual therapy and medical management in adults with shoulder impingement: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. Br J Sports Med. 2017 Sep;51(18):1340-1347. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-096515. Epub 2017 Jun 19.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be shared publicly because of ethical and privacy restrictions; de-identified data may be available from the principal investigator upon reasonable request.
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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.
Tuba KARACA study chair
Uskudar 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 Standardized exercise program and Theragun PRO Plus percussive therapy in people with Shoulder Impingement, run by Uskudar 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 6 inclusion and 9 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 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 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?
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?
Change from baseline in Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score at week 8 (time frame: Baseline and end of week 8 (immediately after the 8-week intervention)). 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 NCT06006351, which also lists 5 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 4 Nov 2026.