Unstable weights may change how athletes with shoulder pain move
NCT ID NCT07646899
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looks at how using unstable loads (like a wobbly barbell) during shoulder presses affects shoulder movement and muscle activity in overhead athletes (e.g., volleyball, tennis, baseball players) who have subacromial pain syndrome. Researchers compare stable vs unstable conditions and also compare athletes with pain to healthy athletes. The goal is to understand if unstable loads alter shoulder mechanics, which could inform future 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 research could help design better rehabilitation exercises for athletes with shoulder pain.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage observational study with only 27 participants, so findings may not apply to all athletes or settings.
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 27 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Sep 2024
- Expected to finish
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Jun 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
Participants were recruited from sports-related venues.
- Ages
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18 to 40 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.
The inclusion criteria for both the experimental and control groups were as follows: (1) amateur or recreational overhead athletes aged 18-40 years (e.g., volleyball, tennis, baseball); (2) sport participation history of more than 3 years; (3) weekly overhead sport participation of more than 4 hours; (4) ability to meet the minimum loading requirements of the equipment for both stable and unstable conditions, defined as a 15-repetition maximum (15RM) for stable shoulder press of ≥10 kg and unstable shoulder press of ≥8 kg. The individual inclusion criteria for the experimental group were: (1) diagnosis of subacromial pain syndrome, defined as at least 3 positive findings out of 5 clinical tests (Painful Arc test, Neer impingement test, Empty Can test, Hawkins-Kennedy impingement test, and Resisted External Rotation test); (2) Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score of ≤3 during shoulder press performance; (3) symptoms present on the dominant side. The individual inclusion criteria for the control group were: absence of shoulder pain within the past 6 months, including no pain at the glenohumeral joint, acromioclavicular joint, sternoclavicular joint, scapulothoracic joint, or cervical spine. The exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) history of surgical intervention for fracture or dislocation of the shoulder or elbow joint within the past 6 months; (2) direct trauma to the cervical spine or upper extremity within the past 1 month; (3) shoulder pain or neurological symptoms of cervical origin; (4) any condition preventing the completion of the experimental protocol; (5) bilateral shoulder pain.
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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 places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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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
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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
RECRUITINGTaipei, Taiwan
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