Shoulder pain may change forearm muscles, new study aims to find out
NCT ID NCT07662772
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study will use portable ultrasound to measure the thickness of forearm muscles and tendons in 90 adults with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain. Researchers want to see if these measurements change based on how long someone has had shoulder pain. They will also measure hand grip strength and arm function. The goal is to understand how the body adapts to long-term shoulder pain and to inform better rehabilitation strategies.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this study could help develop more comprehensive rehabilitation programs that also target the forearm, not just the shoulder.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. It only measures differences and cannot prove cause or lead directly to a new therapy.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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About 90 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Jul 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
\### Study Population Description The study population will consist of adult individuals aged 18-65 years, including both patients with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP) and healthy control participants. Participants with RCRSP will be recruited based on clinical diagnosis confirmed by physical examination and positive clinical tests consistent with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain. Healthy controls will be recruited from the community and hospital staff and will have no history of shoulder pain or upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. Patients with RCRSP will be further categorized according to symptom duration into subgroups for comparative analysis. All participants will undergo a single assessment session including ultrasonographic evaluation of forearm muscle and tendon thickness, hand grip strength measurement, and standardized functional and pain assessments. Participants will be recruited from outpatient physiotherapy and orthopedic clinics of the participatin
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: RCRSP Group Adults aged 18-65 years. Clinical diagnosis of rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP). Unilateral shoulder pain lasting at least 6 weeks. Pain localized around the anterolateral shoulder, aggravated by arm elevation and/or overhead activities. Positive findings on at least three clinical tests suggestive of RCRSP (e.g., painful arc, Hawkins-Kennedy test, Neer test, Jobe/Empty Can test, resisted external rotation). Ability to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent. Healthy Control Group Adults aged 18-65 years. No current shoulder pain. No history of shoulder pain, shoulder surgery, or upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders during the previous 12 months. Ability to provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: Previous shoulder surgery on either upper extremity. History of shoulder fracture, shoulder dislocation, or major upper extremity trauma. Full-thickness rotator cuff tear or other shoulder pathology requiring surgical management. Clinical signs of adhesive capsulitis. Cervical radiculopathy or other neurological disorders affecting the upper extremity. Systemic inflammatory, rheumatologic, or neuromuscular diseases. Peripheral nerve entrapment (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome). Previous surgery or significant injury involving the forearm, wrist, or hand. Corticosteroid injection into the affected shoulder within the previous 3 months. Current pregnancy. Inability to complete study assessments or provide informed consent.
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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