Shoulder pain patients: see if breathing and chest exercises help pain and sleep
Official title: The Effect of Applying Respiratory Muscle Strengthening and Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercises On Pain Levels, Sleep Quality, and Lung Capacity In Participants With Shoulder Pain and Disability
Run by Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University · NCT07885215 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether adding respiratory muscle strengthening and diaphragmatic breathing to shoulder rehab can reduce pain and improve sleep in adults with chronic shoulder pain.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 40 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 70 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Zonguldak) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 25, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 25, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 25, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | October 21, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07885215 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults 40–65 with chronic shoulder pain (>3 months) who have not recently participated in pulmonary rehab.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with active pulmonary disease, prior shoulder surgery, neuromuscular disorders, or current analgesic use may not experience benefits.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Adults aged 40–65 with at least three months of shoulder pain will be assigned to either standard shoulder rehabilitation or shoulder rehabilitation plus respiratory muscle strengthening and diaphragmatic breathing. The study will compare changes in shoulder pain, respiratory capacity measured by spirometry, and sleep quality before and after treatment. Both groups receive routine rehabilitation, but the experimental group adds targeted breathing exercises to see if breathing training provides additional benefits. Outcomes include pain scores, sleep quality scales, and spirometric measurements.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If effective, patients may experience lower shoulder pain and better sleep through a nonpharmacologic add-on to rehab.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research in related areas suggests breathing exercises can aid pain and sleep, but this specific combination with shoulder rehab is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Voluntary participation in the study. * Male and female participants. * Aged between 40 and 65 years. * Shoulder pain lasting for at least three months. * No participation in a pulmonary rehabilitation program within the previous six months. Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of neuromuscular diseases. * History of shoulder subluxation or dislocation. * Presence of pulmonary diseases. * History of shoulder surgery. * Current use of analgesic medications. * History of thoracic surgery. * Presence of spinal deformities. * History of endocrine diseases.
Where it's running
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Zonguldak Level Hospital
Zonguldak, Turkey (Türkiye) Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Zeynep Erdem — Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University
- Study coordinator: Zeynep Erdem
- Email: zsyamakoglu@gmail.com
- Phone: +90 372 261 3365
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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.