Supervised physiotherapy versus home exercise for shoulder impingement
Official title: Comparison of the Effectiveness of a Physiotherapist-Supervised Rehabilitation Program and Home Exercise Education in Subacromial Impingement Syndrome
Run by Izmir Katip Celebi University · NCT07568340 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will test whether supervised physiotherapy or a home exercise program works better for adults aged 30–65 with unilateral subacromial impingement syndrome.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 30 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 63 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Izmir Katip Celebi University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Kırşehir, Kırşehir) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 2, 2025 |
| Main results expected | September 2, 2026 |
| Study ends | September 2, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | May 8, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07568340 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 30–65 who are literate in Turkish, have unilateral subacromial impingement confirmed by a specialist with positive impingement tests, and experience pain with overhead activities are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears, frozen shoulder, glenohumeral osteoarthritis, shoulder instability, recent upper-extremity fracture, cervical neurological symptoms, or significant mental/psychological disorders are excluded and unlikely to benefit from the interventions tested.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial will enroll 63 adults with unilateral subacromial impingement syndrome and randomly assign them to supervised rehabilitation, a home exercise program, or a no-intervention control group. Randomization is done with an online tool; the supervised group receives a structured physiotherapy program five days per week for four weeks, while the home group receives one instruction session and continues exercises independently. Outcome measures include pain, range of motion, strength, and shoulder function collected at baseline and follow-up visits. The design aims to determine whether a lower-resource home program can provide outcomes comparable to supervised care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could support home exercise as an effective, lower-cost option that increases access to care and reduces waiting times for people with shoulder impingement.
How similar studies have gone: Previous randomized comparisons of supervised physiotherapy versus home exercise for shoulder impingement have shown mixed results, with some trials reporting similar outcomes and others favoring supervised programs.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Voluntary participation in the study * Literate in Turkish * Aged between 30 and 65 years * No visual or hearing impairment * Diagnosed with unilateral subacromial impingement syndrome by a specialist physician * Positive painful arc test, Infraspinatus test, and Hawkins-Kennedy test * Pain during overhead activities Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of a mental or psychological disorder that may affect study findings * Inadequate cooperation * History of upper extremity fracture within the last 6 months * Presence of cervical neurological symptoms * Glenohumeral instability * Acromioclavicular joint pathology * Full-thickness rotator cuff tear or total rupture * Signs of glenohumeral osteoarthritis * History of frozen shoulder
Where it's running
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Kırsehir Ahi Evran University
Kırşehir, Kırşehir, Turkey (Türkiye) Recruiting
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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.