The Immediate Effects of Soft Tissue Mobilization on Posterior Shoulder Tightness in Overhead Athletes With Subacromial Pain Syndrome

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Posterior Shoulder Tightness; Subacromial Impingement Syndrome

• Registration Number: NCT07005856
• Lead Sponsor: National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to investigate the immediate effects of soft tissue mobilization on shoulder mobility, pain, scapular kinematics and muscle activation and muscle Stiffness in symptomatic overhead athletes with posterior shoulder tightness.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2024-05
• Study Start: 2024-05-15
• Primary Completion: 2025-01-15
• Study Completion: 2025-01-15
• Study First Submitted: 2025-04-14
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-05-27
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-05-27
• Study First Posted: 2025-06-05
• Last Update Posted: 2025-06-05

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 54

Inclusion Criteria

• Amateur overhead athletes aged 18-50 years.
• Participation in overhead sports training for more than 4 hours per week.
• Playing experience of more than 3 years.
• Shoulder range of motion deficits: internal rotation range of motion (ROM) on the affected side is at least 10 degrees less than the unaffected side, and total rotational ROM (internal rotation + external rotation) is at least 5 degrees less than the unaffected side, or horizontal adduction ROM is at least 10 degrees less than the unaffected side.
• Patients with subacromial pain syndrome: diagnosis requires at least 3 out of 5 positive test results (Hawkins-Kennedy impingement test, Neer impingement test, Empty Can test, Painful Arc test, and External Rotation Resistance test).

Exclusion Criteria

• Negative result on the kinetic medial rotation test.
• History of shoulder fracture, dislocation, or upper limb injury requiring surgery within the past 6 months.
• Inability to complete the experiment due to personal factors.
• Shoulder pain intensity greater than 7 points on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
• History of direct trauma to the neck or upper limb within the past month. Shoulder pain and neurological symptoms originating from the cervical spine. Contraindications to soft tissue mobilization, such as open wounds in the treatment area, skin cancer, localized infection, severe edema, vascular disorders, or acute muscle tears in the treatment area

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Shoulder average pain intensity	Immediately after the single session	Pain is measured with Visual Analogue scale (VAS) Score range from 0 to 10. Scoring of 0 represents no pain and scoring of 10 represents pain as bad as it could possibly be.
Shoulder passive range of motion (measured with goniometer)	Immediately after the single session	Shoulder external rotation, internal rotation, horizontal adduction range of motion in shoulder flexion 90 degrees
Shoulder active range of motion (measured with goniometer)	Immediately after the single session	Shoulder external rotation, internal rotation, horizontal adduction range of motion in shoulder flexion 90 degrees
Perceived improvement	Immediately after the single session	Perceived improvement was assessed through the GROC scale. Global Rating of Change (GROC) scale was used to assess the participant's perceived improvement. The scale ranges from -7 to +7, where -7 indicates a very great deal worse, 0 indicates no change, and +7 indicates a very great deal better. Higher scores reflect greater perceived improvement.
Shoulder muscle stiffness	Immediately after the single session	Mean dynamic muscle stiffness (N/m) of shoulder posterior muscles (deltoid, infraspinatus, teres minor) measured by MyotonPRO

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Surface electromyography (TeleMyo2400T G2, Noraxon USA Inc., Scottsdale, AZ, USA)	Immediately after the single session	Muscle activation of infraspinatus, upper trapezius, lower trapezius and serratus anterior during shoulder elevation task in scapular plane and saggital plane
Scapular kinematics (degrees) during shoulder elevation measured by VIPER™ system	Immediately after the single session	Scapular upward rotation, posterior tilt, and external rotation angles (in degrees) were recorded during shoulder elevation in the scapular and sagittal planes using the VIPER™ electromagnetic tracking system. Data were collected at 30°, 60°, 90°, and 120° of humeral elevation, and reported as mean values for each angle.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University; 🇨🇳 Taipei, Taiwan