Pain education may boost shoulder surgery recovery

NCT ID NCT06886932

Symptom relief Sponsor: Elif Dilara Durmaz Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether adding pain neuroscience education (PNE) to standard rehab improves pain, movement, and fear of movement in 45 adults aged 40-75 recovering from rotator cuff surgery. Participants are split into three groups: standard rehab alone, standard rehab plus PNE before surgery, or standard rehab plus PNE after surgery. The goal is to see if understanding how pain works can lead to better recovery and less fear of moving the shoulder.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: pain neuroscience education (educational sessions on pain biology and coping strategies)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a simple, drug-free way to improve recovery and reduce fear of movement after rotator cuff surgery.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase study with only 45 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The educational sessions may be time-consuming and not help all patients.

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

About 45 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Apr 2025

Expected to finish

Sep 2026

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

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

The study population consists of adult patients aged 40-75 years who have been diagnosed with a medium-sized rotator cuff tear (1-3 cm) confirmed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and are scheduled for surgical repair using the mini-open surgical technique. Participants must meet the following inclusion criteria: Ability to understand and complete the informed consent form and related assessment scales in Turkish. A score of 24 or higher on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to ensure adequate cognitive function for participation. Patients will be excluded if they have: Received a corticosteroid injection within the last 6 weeks. Evidence of adhesive capsulitis (loss of passive external rotation greater than 50% or 30°). A history of prior cervical, thoracic, or shoulder surgery. Cervical radiculopathy, acromioclavicular pathology, shoulder instability, or a full-thickness rotator cuff tear. Calcific tendinitis, systemic diseases (e.g., inflammatory arthritis, malignancy), o

Ages

40 to 75 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show 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.

Eligibility Criteria Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of a medium-sized rotator cuff tear (1-3 cm) confirmed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and scheduled for surgical repair Age between 40 and 75 years Sufficient Turkish language proficiency to understand and complete the informed consent form and assessment scales Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥ 24, indicating adequate cognitive function for study participation Exclusion Criteria: Corticosteroid injection received within the last 6 weeks Adhesive capsulitis, defined as loss of passive external rotation greater than 50% or 30° History of previous cervical, thoracic, or shoulder surgery Presence of cervical radiculopathy, characterized by pain and tingling radiating to the arm due to nerve root involvement Acromioclavicular joint pathology or shoulder instability causing shoulder pain Full-thickness rotator cuff tear Calcific tendinitis Systemic diseases (e.g., inflammatory arthritis, malignancy) or neurological disorders (e.g., fibromyalgia, other neurological deficits) Fracture, labral lesion, or biceps tendon injury in the affected shoulder Prior participation in a chronic pain psychological management program or presence of generalized body pain

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Kinesiophobia Rotator Cuff Injuries rotator cuff syndrome

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Kinesiophobia (fear of movement) Postoperative pain management Postoperative rehabilitation Rotator cuff tears Shoulder dysfunction

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

The places running it

1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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

A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Pain education may boost shoulder surgery recovery

What the study statuses mean