Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 17 to 35 Men only

Rotator cuff drills vs progressive resistance exercises for shoulder tendinopathy in overhead athletes

Official title: Effects of Rotator Cuff Drills Versus Progressive Resistance Exercises on Pain, Stability and Functional Performance Among Overhead Athletes With Chronic Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy

Run by Riphah International University · NCT07726030 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This trial tests whether rotator cuff drills or progressive resistance exercises help reduce pain and improve shoulder function in male overhead athletes with chronic rotator cuff tendinopathy.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages17 Years to 35 Years
SexMen only
Enrollment30 (estimated)
SponsorRiphah International University
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Faisalābad, Punjab Province)
StatusRecruiting
StartedOctober 15, 2025
Main results expectedOctober 2026
Study endsOctober 2026
Registry record updatedSeptember 30, 2026
Trial IDNCT07726030 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Professional or semi-professional male overhead athletes aged 17–35 with chronic rotator cuff tendinopathy and a painful arc of movement, engaged in sports such as cricket, volleyball, tennis, or basketball for at least 6 hours per week.

Probably not a fit

Patients without persistent rotator cuff tendinopathy or those with recent shoulder surgery, acute trauma, recent corticosteroid injections, or other shoulder injuries may not experience benefit.

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

What this trial studies

In this single-blinded randomized trial, 30 competitive male overhead athletes with chronic rotator cuff tendinopathy were assigned to either rotator cuff drills or progressive resistance exercises for 12 weeks (3 sessions per week), following a standardized warm-up and the FIIT principle. Outcomes measured at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks included pain (NPRS), function (SPADI), and performance tests (CKCUEST, ULRT). Data were analyzed with SPSS v24, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. The study aims to determine which exercise approach more effectively improves pain, stability, and functional performance in sport-specific contexts. The investigation addresses gaps in evidence for optimal rehabilitation progression in overhead athletes with rotator cuff tendinopathy.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the preferred exercise approach could lead to better pain relief and functional performance for overhead athletes with rotator cuff tendinopathy.

How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have explored exercise-based rehabilitation for rotator cuff tendinopathy, but direct head-to-head comparisons of rotator cuff drills versus progressive resistance exercises in overhead athletes are limited.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria

* Professional male overhead athletes aged 17-35 years
* Male overhead athletes playing competitive sports like volleyball, tennis, baseball, cricket, swimming, badminton, and basketball for at least 6 hours a week. Painful arc of movement during flexion or abduction.
* Positive Neer's or Kennedy-Hawkins test

Exclusion Criteria:

* Had a previous shoulder surgery.
* Trauma history. Corticosteroid injection within the previous 6 weeks
* Other injuries rather than Rotator cuff tendinopathy

Where it's running

  • Jawad club, Alfatah sports complex
    Faisalābad, Punjab Province, Pakistan
    Recruiting

Study contacts

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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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.