Retraining the brain to unfreeze the shoulder: a promising new therapy?
NCT ID NCT05372497
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether adding brain-based treatments—like pain education and sensory training—to standard physical therapy helps people with frozen shoulder more than therapy alone. 21 adults with chronic frozen shoulder were split into two groups: one received only conventional physiotherapy, the other got that plus a 4-week central nervous system focused program. The goal was to see if the extra training could reduce pain, improve movement, and change how patients think about their pain.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- central nervous system focused therapy (pain education, sensory training, graded motor imagery, mirror therapy) plus conventional physiotherapy
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could offer a more effective way to reduce pain and improve shoulder function in people with frozen shoulder, potentially shortening recovery time.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial with only 21 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The added therapy is time-intensive, and benefits over standard care may be modest.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Istanbul Medipol University Esenler Hospital
Istanbul, Istanbul, 34230, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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