Osteopathic treatment for shoulder pain in stroke patients

The Effects of Osteopathic Manual Treatment on Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain and Upper Extremity Function in Stroke Patients: A Pilot Study

Not applicable Interventional University of Wisconsin, Madison · NCT06098508

This study is testing if osteopathic treatment can help adults with shoulder pain after a stroke feel better and move their arms more easily.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment10 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison Academic / other
Locations1 site (Middleton, Wisconsin)
Trial IDNCT06098508 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the feasibility and safety of osteopathic manual treatment (OMT) for patients experiencing hemiplegic shoulder pain following a stroke. Participants, who are adults diagnosed with a first-time stroke within the last five years, will receive either OMT or a sham treatment weekly for approximately six weeks. The study aims to determine the effectiveness of OMT in alleviating shoulder pain and improving upper extremity function in this population.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 or older who have experienced a first-time stroke within the past five years and have shoulder pain on the affected side.

Not a fit: Patients with active infections, fractures, open wounds, rheumatoid arthritis, or certain types of strokes may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly reduce shoulder pain and improve upper limb function in stroke patients.

How similar studies have performed: While the approach of using osteopathic manual treatment is promising, it is relatively novel in this specific context and has not been extensively tested in similar studies.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients must be at least 18 years or older to participate in the study
* Presence of shoulder pain on the side of the body affected by stroke
* Patients must have a diagnosis of a first-time stroke within the past 5 years
* Stroke type must be subcortical, brainstem, and/or right-MCA stroke. Participants with multiple stroke types within the first-time diagnosis may be included

Exclusion Criteria:

* Presence of an active systemic or localized infection requiring antibiotic therapy
* Presence of fracture in the area being treated
* Presence of open wound in the area being treated
* Presence of rheumatoid arthritis
* Presence of known active malignancy
* Presence of shoulder pain on the affected side within 3 months prior to stroke
* Patients with left-MCA stroke diagnosis who demonstrate the presence of aphasia based on the Mississippi Aphasia Screening Test (MAST)
* Patients who demonstrate hemispatial visual neglect based on screening motor-free visual perception test (MFVPT)
* Patients already receiving any type of manual therapy by a certified therapist through their standard-of-care treatment
* Patients who do not wish to participate
* Patients who are not fit as judged by the study team
* Patients who lack the capacity to consent for enrollment in the study based on the University of California San Diego Brief Assessment of Capacity to Consent

Where this trial is running

Middleton, Wisconsin

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Hemiplegic Shoulder PainOsteopathic Manipulative Treatmentstrokehemiplegic shoulder painOsteopathic Manual TreatmentOMT
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.