Shoulder PainFocusVolleyNCT07072091
Focusing the Shoulder or Considering the Whole-Body in Volleyball Physiotherapy
A study testing Total body physiotherapy, Focus shoulder physiotherapy and Education in people with Shoulder Pain and Volleyball Players, run by University of Trieste at 1 site in Italy.
Trial summary
Shoulder pain can be common in overhead sports, and in particular, in volleyball. Different physiotherapy protocols can be adopted depending on the suspected pathophysiological mechanisms. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 17 to 30 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Shoulder Pain, Volleyball Players
- What is being tested?
- Total body physiotherapy, Focus shoulder physiotherapy and Education
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteItaly
- Study dates
- 20 Jul 2025to Sep 2025
- 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 17 to 30 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- practicing volleyball for at least 5 years with a training volume of minimum 5 h/wk
Who cannot join
- history of previous surgical intervention or fractures on the shoulder or spine
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Italy1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University of Trieste - Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology Lab
Trieste, Trieste, 34100
Alex Buoite Stella, PhD, 0039 0403996582, abuoitestella@units.it
About this study
Official title: Focusing the Shoulder or Considering the Whole-Body? A Randomized Controlled Trial on Physiotherapy Protocols for the Painful Shoulder in Volleyball Players
Shoulder pain can be common in overhead sports, and in particular, in volleyball. Different physiotherapy protocols can be adopted depending on the suspected pathophysiological mechanisms. Despite most of the protocols rely only on the shoulder district, some research suggests that treating the whole-body might produce better results as it could influence kinematic chains and correct muscle imbalances. The aim of this study will be to compare the effects of two physiotherapy protocols (shoulder focus or whole body) compared to only education without physiotherapy.
- Conditions
- Shoulder Pain, Volleyball Players
- Being tested
- Total body physiotherapy, Focus shoulder physiotherapy, Education
- Medical subject headings
- Shoulder Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Total body physiotherapyOther
This intervention consists in 5 weeks of 2 x week 60 min sessions of physiotherapy consisting in active exercise performed in upper limb, trunk, and lower limb muscles, in a whole-body approach.
Focus shoulder physiotherapyOther
This intervention consists in 5 weeks of 2 x week 60 min sessions of physiotherapy consisting in active exercise performed only in the shoulder district, focusing on the trunk-arm muscles.
EducationOther
Single education session providing information about posture hygiene and proper warm-up
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy controls | No intervention | A convenience sample of healthy volleyball players for cross-sectional comparison |
| Total body physiotherapy group | Experimental | Physiotherapy intervention consisting in whole body exercise and treatment Receives: Other: Total body physiotherapy |
| Focus shoulder group | Active comparator | Physiotherapy intervention consisting in shoulder exercise and treatment Receives: Other: Focus shoulder physiotherapy |
| No physiotherapy group | Other | No physiotherapy, only education Receives: Other: Education |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Isometric strength with handheld dynamometer (Newtons)
Isometric strength during shoulder flexion, extension, external and internal rotation, bilaterally
Measured: At enrollment and at the end of treatment at 5 weeks
Secondary outcomes (3)
Lateral symmetry (%)
Lateral symmetry will be assessed as percentage between the two upper limbs for the investigated muscles (pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, upper trapezius, middle trepezius, lower trapezius, anterior deltoid, posterior deltoid) using the tensiomyography system
Measured: At enrollement and at the end of treatment after 5 weeks
Time of contraction (ms)
Time of contraction (ms), i.e. the time requiring the muscle to reach the peak of muscle displacement, will be assessed as percentage between the two upper limbs for the investigated muscles (pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, upper trapezius, middle trepezius, lower trapezius, anterior deltoid, posterior deltoid) using the tensiomyography system
Measured: At enrollement and at the end of treatment after 5 weeks
Muscle belly displacement (mm)
Muscle belly displacement (mm), i.e. the amplitude of muscle displacement, will be assessed as percentage between the two upper limbs for the investigated muscles (pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, upper trapezius, middle trepezius, lower trapezius, anterior deltoid, posterior deltoid) using the tensiomyography system
Measured: At enrollement and at the end of treatment after 5 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Jul 2025
- Study start20 Jul 2025
- Primary completionSep 2025 (estimated)
- Study completionSep 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Shoulder 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
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Trieste
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Alex Buoite Stella, University of Trieste
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07072091
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- DSM_Fisio_SpallaPallavolo25
- Acronym
- FocusVolley
- Status last verified
- Aug 2025
- First submitted
- 30 May 2025
- Last updated
- 14 Aug 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Publications
Jones SD Jr, Safran MR. Current concepts: the hip, core and kinetic chain in the overhead athlete. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2024 Feb;33(2):450-456. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2023.10.009. Epub 2023 Nov 23.
PubMed 38007174Erkan R, Telci EA. Impact of Stabilization Exercises on Athletic Performance and Injury Risk in College Volleyball Players. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2025 May 13;20(7):948-957. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2024-0348. Print 2025 Jul 1.
PubMed 40360147
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 Aug 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Focusing the Shoulder or Considering the Whole-Body? A Randomized Controlled Trial on Physiotherapy Protocols for the Painful Shoulder in Volleyball Players
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07072091
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- FocusVolley / DSM_Fisio_SpallaPallavolo25
- Conditions
- Shoulder Pain, Volleyball Players
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of TriesteUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Sep 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Sep 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 18 Jul 2025 (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.
Shoulder pain can be common in overhead sports, and in particular, in volleyball. Different physiotherapy protocols can be adopted depending on the suspected pathophysiological mechanisms. Despite most of the protocols rely only on the shoulder district, some research suggests that treating the whole-body might produce better results as it could influence kinematic chains and correct muscle imbalances. The aim of this study will be to compare the effects of two physiotherapy protocols (shoulder focus or whole body) compared to only education without physiotherapy.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy controls | No intervention | –A convenience sample of healthy volleyball players for cross-sectional comparison |
| Total body physiotherapy group | Experimental | Other: Total body physiotherapyPhysiotherapy intervention consisting in whole body exercise and treatment |
| Focus shoulder group | Active comparator | Other: Focus shoulder physiotherapyPhysiotherapy intervention consisting in shoulder exercise and treatment |
| No physiotherapy group | Other | Other: EducationNo physiotherapy, only education |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 17 to 30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- practicing volleyball for at least 5 years with a training volume of minimum 5 h/wk
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- history of previous surgical intervention or fractures on the shoulder or spine
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Total body physiotherapyThis intervention consists in 5 weeks of 2 x week 60 min sessions of physiotherapy consisting in active exercise performed in upper limb, trunk, and lower limb muscles, in a whole-body approach. | Other | Total body physiotherapy group |
| Focus shoulder physiotherapyThis intervention consists in 5 weeks of 2 x week 60 min sessions of physiotherapy consisting in active exercise performed only in the shoulder district, focusing on the trunk-arm muscles. | Other | Focus shoulder group |
| EducationSingle education session providing information about posture hygiene and proper warm-up | Other | No physiotherapy group |
Primary outcome
Isometric strength with handheld dynamometer (Newtons)
Time frame: At enrollment and at the end of treatment at 5 weeks
Isometric strength during shoulder flexion, extension, external and internal rotation, bilaterally
3 secondary outcomes
Lateral symmetry (%)
Time frame: At enrollement and at the end of treatment after 5 weeks
Time of contraction (ms)
Time frame: At enrollement and at the end of treatment after 5 weeks
Muscle belly displacement (mm)
Time frame: At enrollement and at the end of treatment after 5 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 14 Aug 2025.
- Background: PubMed 38007174Jones SD Jr, Safran MR. Current concepts: the hip, core and kinetic chain in the overhead athlete. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2024 Feb;33(2):450-456. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2023.10.009. Epub 2023 Nov 23.
- Background: PubMed 40360147Erkan R, Telci EA. Impact of Stabilization Exercises on Athletic Performance and Injury Risk in College Volleyball Players. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2025 May 13;20(7):948-957. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2024-0348. Print 2025 Jul 1.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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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.
University of Trieste - Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology Lab
Trieste, Italy
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Total body physiotherapy, Focus shoulder physiotherapy and Education in people with Shoulder Pain and Volleyball Players, run by University of Trieste at 1 site in Italy.
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 1 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 14 Aug 2025. 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 Italy. 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?
Each site lists its own contact: choose the nearest one under Trial locations. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Isometric strength with handheld dynamometer (Newtons) (time frame: At enrollment and at the end of treatment at 5 weeks). 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 NCT07072091, which also lists 2 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 14 Aug 2025.