Mobilization with Movement for people with rotator cuff lesions
The Effect of Mobilization With Movement on Function, Pain, and Joint Position Sense in Patients With Rotator Cuff Lesions: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial
This trial will test whether Mobilization with Movement helps reduce pain, improve shoulder function, and restore joint position sense in adults with rotator cuff lesions.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 75 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Kırşehir) |
| Trial ID | NCT07383038 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial will randomly assign eligible adults with clinically or imaging-confirmed rotator cuff lesions and chronic shoulder pain to one of three groups: Mulligan Mobilization with Movement (MWM), conventional physiotherapy, or a control group. Interventions are delivered by physiotherapists and participants are evaluated before and after the intervention period using the QuickDASH for shoulder-related disability, pain intensity measures, and an active shoulder repositioning test with a laser pointer to quantify joint position sense. The protocol excludes full-thickness tears, prior shoulder surgery, recent acute trauma, significant neurological or rheumatologic disease, severe osteoarthritis or adhesive capsulitis, and recent corticosteroid injection or manual therapy. The trial is designed to determine whether MWM provides additional benefits in pain, function, or proprioception beyond conventional care or no intervention.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18–65 with clinical or imaging evidence of rotator cuff tendinopathy or partial tear, at least three months of shoulder pain and movement-related functional limitation, and the ability to actively perform the shoulder movements required for assessment are the intended candidates.
Not a fit: People with full-thickness rotator cuff tears, prior shoulder surgery, recent shoulder fracture/dislocation or acute trauma, shoulder instability, severe osteoarthritis or adhesive capsulitis, neurological disorders affecting the upper limb, or recent corticosteroid injection are excluded and unlikely to benefit from the interventions tested here.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, MWM could provide greater pain relief, improved shoulder function, and better joint position sense compared with conventional physiotherapy or no intervention.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have shown MWM can reduce pain and improve function in various musculoskeletal conditions, but evidence is limited specifically regarding its effects on shoulder proprioception in rotator cuff lesions.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 18 and 65 years * Clinical and/or imaging-confirmed diagnosis of rotator cuff lesion (e.g., tendinopathy or partial tear) * Presence of shoulder pain for at least 3 months * Pain and functional limitation during shoulder movements * Ability to actively perform shoulder movements required for assessment and intervention * No physiotherapy or manual therapy treatment for the affected shoulder within the last 3 months Exclusion Criteria: * History of shoulder surgery on the affected side * Full-thickness rotator cuff tear or shoulder instability * Shoulder fracture, dislocation, or acute trauma within the past 6 months * Neurological disorders affecting the upper extremity (e.g., cervical radiculopathy, peripheral neuropathy) * Systemic inflammatory or rheumatologic diseases * Severe shoulder osteoarthritis or adhesive capsulitis * Current participation in another clinical trial * Use of corticosteroid injection in the affected shoulder within the last 3 months * Pregnancy * Inability to comply with the study protocol or assessment procedures
Where this trial is running
Kırşehir
- Ahi Evran University — Kırşehir, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Ömer Faruk Özçelep, PhD
- Email: omer.ozcelep@ahievran.edu.tr
- Phone: +90 531 946 3777
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.