Empowered Relief and Exercise Rehab for Subacromial Shoulder Pain

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This interventional study uses a multiple-baseline single-case design to evaluate a brief pain-skills session added to a standard 12-week shoulder exercise program. All participants complete the same exercise plan, while the Empowered Relief session is scheduled between day 10 and day 26 after starting the program. Researchers compare outcomes before and after the session within each participant to understand effects on pain beliefs and exercise adherence. The program targets shoulder external rotation, abduction, and flexion with progressively adapted resistance, and includes daily self-reported questions over 12 weeks. The trial is conducted across several Danish sites with certified instructors delivering the online session.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18 to 65 years, inclusive.
* Shoulder pain for at least 3 months.
* Sufficient Danish language proficiency to understand study information, follow instructions, and complete questionnaires.
* Diagnosis of subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS), confirmed by either:
* an existing clinical diagnosis provided by a referring clinician, or
* a standardized study-based clinical examination with at least 3 of the following 5 tests positive: Painful Arc test, Empty Can (Jobe's) test, Neer's test, Hawkins-Kennedy test, and External Rotation Resistance test.
* Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) score greater than 16.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Current regular use of strong analgesic medication, excluding over-the-counter medication.
* Pregnancy.
* Referral for postoperative shoulder rehabilitation.
* Corticosteroid injection in the affected shoulder within the past 2 months.
* Current fracture of the affected shoulder, radiographically verified.
* Glenohumeral osteoarthritis in the affected shoulder, radiographically verified.
* History of shoulder dislocation or subluxation in the affected shoulder.
* Suspected labral lesion of the affected shoulder.
* Suspected full-thickness rotator cuff tear.
* Suspected frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis).
* Presence of competing conditions that may explain the shoulder pain or interfere with participation, including but not limited to cancer, inflammatory rheumatic disease, neurological disorders, fibromyalgia, or severe psychiatric disease.

Where it's running

• Ballerup Municipality
  Ballerup Municipality, Denmark Recruiting
• Copenhagen Municipality, Amager Rehabilitation Center
  Copenhagen, Denmark Recruiting
• Frederiksberg Municipality
  Frederiksberg, Denmark Recruiting
• Hvidovre Municipality
  Hvidovre, Denmark Recruiting
• Fredensborg Municipality
  Kokkedal, Denmark Recruiting
• Køge Municipality
  Køge, Denmark Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Mikkel Bek Clausen, Phd, Associate professor — University College Copenhagen
• Study coordinator: Lars Bo Jørgensen, PhD
• Email: larj@kp.dk
• Phone: +45 23488716

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Hybrid mobile health and telerehabilitation vs in-person physiotherapy for shoulder pain

  This study tests whether a mobile-health program, tele-rehabilitation sessions, or conventional physiotherapy can help adults with Subacromial Pain Syndrome.

  Recruiting Riphah International University · Rawalpindi, Federal · NCT07921160

• Functional electrical stimulation plus shoulder exercises for older adults with rotator cuff pain

  In older adults with rotator cuff–related shoulder pain, this study tests whether adding functional electrical stimulation to a shoulder exercise program improves muscle coordination and reduces impingement compared with exercises alone.

  Recruiting University of Texas at Austin · Austin, Texas · NCT07886827

• Nociplastic Pain in SAPS: A Look at Pain Types in Shoulder Pain

  This study tests how common nociplastic pain is among people with subacromial pain syndrome who have shoulder pain for at least 3 months.

  Recruiting Vejle Hospital · Vejle · NCT07792434

• Pain phenotype and response to corticosteroid injection in SAPS

  This study tests whether people with subacromial pain syndrome who have a nociplastic pain pattern respond differently to a corticosteroid injection than those without that pattern.

  Recruiting Vejle Hospital · Vejle · NCT07792421

• Unstable vs. Stable Shoulder Press in Overhead Athletes with Shoulder Pain

  This study tests whether unstable loads change shoulder movement and muscle activation in overhead athletes with subacromial pain compared to stable loads, and compares those with healthy athletes.

  Recruiting National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University · Taipei · NCT07646899

• Attention-shift exercise program for rotator cuff–related shoulder pain

  This will test whether doing shoulder exercises while also performing attention-shifting movements reduces pain and improves function for people with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain.

  Recruiting Istanbul University · Istanbul · NCT07546084

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.