Contextually Enhanced Exercise Programs for Rotator Cuff-Related Shoulder Pain
Recruiting
N/AInterventional Study
Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder PainShoulder PainRotator Cuff Injuries
No Placebo Group
Every participant receives an active treatment — no one gets a placebo.
Ready to participate?
Review the details below, then apply to join this clinical trial.
At a Glance
Age
18 – 75
Sex
Any
Study type
Interventional
Purpose
Treatment
Participants needed
72 (estimated)
Sponsor
Istanbul Nisantasi University · Other
Who this trial is looking for
This trial is looking for people aged 18 to 75 with shoulder pain caused by rotator cuff injuries. Participants will join exercise sessions twice a week and help researchers find out if personalized factors can improve their pain and function.
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
You may be able to join if
I am between 18 and 75 years old.
I have been diagnosed with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain.
My shoulder pain has lasted longer than 3 months.
I feel pain when lifting my arm.
I have positive results on specific shoulder tests.
I can understand and speak Turkish.
I am willing to participate and give informed consent.
You may not be able to join if
I have signs of a large rotator cuff tear with marked weakness.
I have other shoulder conditions like frozen shoulder or severe arthritis.
I have had shoulder surgery before.
I have neurological disorders or serious systemic diseases.
I have a history of cancer.
I have physical or mental impairments that prevent participation.
I have shoulder symptoms caused by neck movements.
I received a corticosteroid injection in the last 6 weeks.
Summarized in plain language from this trial's official eligibility criteria.
The full criteria are further down this page — only the research team can
confirm whether you qualify.
Think this trial could be right for you?
Answer a few quick questions to see if you may meet the eligibility requirements.
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether adding personalized contextual factors to an exercise program can improve pain and function in people with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain. This condition is a common cause of shoulder pain and can limit daily activities.
The main questions this study aims to answer are:
1. Does a contextually enriched and individualized exercise program lea…
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether adding personalized contextual factors to an exercise program can improve pain and function in people with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain. This condition is a common cause of shoulder pain and can limit daily activities.
The main questions this study aims to answer are:
1. Does a contextually enriched and individualized exercise program lead to greater improvement in upper-limb disability (measured by the QuickDASH questionnaire) compared with a contextually fixed program?
2. Does it lead to greater reductions in pain intensity (measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale) and greater improvements in autonomic nervous system regulation (measured by heart rate variability)?
3. Does it result in more favorable changes in psychosocial outcomes, exercise adherence, and therapeutic alliance?
Researchers will compare two exercise programs to determine whether adding personalized contextual features enhances treatment effectiveness.
One group will receive a standardized, evidence-based exercise program delivered in a fixed and neutral manner.
The other group will receive the same exercise program with added personalized contextual elements, such as:
* Preferred music and lighting
* Choice between equivalent exercises (without changing exercise type or dosage)
* Motivational feedback and supportive communication
* Personalized progress tracking
Both groups will:
* Attend supervised exercise sessions twice per week for 12 weeks
* Follow a structured home exercise program
* Complete questionnaires assessing pain, function, and psychological factors
* Undergo heart rate variability assessment to evaluate autonomic regulation
* Be followed for 12 months after treatment
The researchers expect that integrating personalized contextual elements into exercise therapy may enhance recovery, increase motivation, and improve long-term outcomes.
Trial Locations
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Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
* Age between 18 and 75 years
* Clinical diagnosis of rotator cuff-related shoulder pain
* Shoulder pain duration longer than 3 months
* Painful arc during shoulder flexion or abduction
* Positive Neer or Hawkins-Kennedy test
* Pain during resisted external rotation or abduction…
Inclusion Criteria:
* Age between 18 and 75 years
* Clinical diagnosis of rotator cuff-related shoulder pain
* Shoulder pain duration longer than 3 months
* Painful arc during shoulder flexion or abduction
* Positive Neer or Hawkins-Kennedy test
* Pain during resisted external rotation or abduction, or positive Jobe test
* Ability to understand and speak Turkish
* Willingness to participate and provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
* Clinical signs of a large rotator cuff tear characterized by marked weakness without pain
* Other shoulder conditions (e.g., frozen shoulder defined as at least 30 percent passive glenohumeral restriction in two or more directions, advanced osteoarthritis, fracture, dislocation, or severe acromioclavicular joint pathology)
* Previous shoulder surgery
* Neurological disorders or significant systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis
* Current or past history of malignancy
* Physical or cognitive impairments preventing participation in assessments or intervention sessions
* Reproduction of shoulder symptoms with active cervical spine movements indicating symptomatic cervical pathology
* Corticosteroid injection within the previous 6 weeks
* Participation in other concurrent shoulder treatments during the study
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