Could a tight pectoralis minor muscle lead to rotator cuff tears?
Official title: The Role of Pectoralis Minor Muscle Tightness in the Development of Rotator Cuff Tears: A Propensity Score Matched Case-Control Study
Run by Gazi University · NCT07228936 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tries to see if tightness of the pectoralis minor muscle is linked to rotator cuff tears in adults aged 18–55 with shoulder pain.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 55 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 90 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Gazi University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Ankara, Cankaya) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 18, 2025 |
| Main results expected | August 3, 2026 |
| Study ends | August 3, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | August 4, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07228936 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults 18 to 55 years old with shoulder pain who undergo MRI and/or shoulder arthroscopy at Gazi University Hospital and can give informed consent are appropriate candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with prior surgery on the same shoulder, recent major-trauma tears, significant neck/nerve disorders, systemic inflammatory joint disease, or those outside the study location are unlikely to benefit from this observational comparison.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This single-center, propensity score matched case-control study at Gazi University Hospital compares 45 patients with rotator cuff tears found at arthroscopy to 45 matched controls with intact rotator cuffs documented by MRI or arthroscopy. Cases and controls are matched 1:1 on demographics and activity factors using propensity scores (nearest neighbor, caliper 0.2 SD) implemented in R MatchIt. Before surgery, trained clinicians measure shoulder posture and pectoralis minor length with simple external tools (digital caliper and ruler-like square); all imaging and surgeries follow standard clinical care. The research only adds noninvasive measurements and structured data collection and does not change patient treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If pectoralis minor tightness is linked to tears, clinicians could target stretching or rehabilitation to reduce the risk or progression of rotator cuff injury.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown pectoralis minor tightness can alter scapular posture and contribute to impingement, but direct evidence tying it to rotator cuff tear development is limited, so this approach is partly supported but not definitively established.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria consisted of patients aged 18-55 years who were scheduled to undergo surgical treatment for a partial-thickness rotator cuff tear (case group) and individuals aged 18-55 years with no evidence of rotator cuff or other shoulder pathology on magnetic resonance imaging (control group). Patients were excluded if they had a history of trauma, thoracic outlet syndrome, systemic inflammatory disease, prior surgery on the affected shoulder, and declined participation in the examination.
Where it's running
-
Gazi University Hospital
Ankara, Cankaya, Turkey (Türkiye) Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Cagatay Delice
- Email: cgty_166@hotmail.com
- Phone: +90 546 5819056
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.