Using a wearable device to manage work-related shoulder pain

Is this trial a fit for you?

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

What this trial studies

This pilot study evaluates the feasibility of a wearable feedback device designed to help workers manage work-related shoulder disorders. The device, worn like a watch, measures shoulder movements and muscle activity, providing real-time feedback to users about their physical demands. The study aims to assess recruitment success, adherence to the intervention, and the technology's acceptability, while also exploring its potential to reduce pain, disability, and work limitations among affected workers. If successful, this approach could lead to a larger randomized clinical trial to further validate its effectiveness.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adult (≧ 18 years) employed full-time (minimum of 30 hours per week).
2. Experiencing work-related shoulder disorders (WRSDs), with minimal score of 14 points on the for the abbreviated version of the Disability of the Arm Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (QuickDASH), stemming from a diagnosis of rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP), shoulder osteoarthritis (SOA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) involving the shoulder.
3. Symptoms persisting for more than 6 weeks.

Diagnosis-specific criteria:

1. RCRSP: diagnosis requires meeting three positive criteria, including the presence of a painful arc in abduction, a positive Neer sign, Hawkins-Kennedy test, or Jobe Test, pain with resisted humeral external rotation;
2. SOA: diagnosis based on clinical findings (e.g., activity-related pain, reduced range of motion particularly external rotation and function, worsening night/rest pain) and radiologic findings (e.g., osteophytes, joint space narrowing, subchondral sclerosis, cyst formations, and humeral head deformities);
3. RA involving the shoulder: confirmed diagnosis according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria.

Both SOA and RA diagnoses will be confirmed by a physician.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. clinical signs of a massive rotator cuff tear (e.g., pseudoparesis or pseudoparalysis, passive elevation intact but active limited to \<90°, without neurologic deficit);
2. acute traumatic rotator cuff tears, fractures, adhesive capsulitis (characterized by night pain, pain with sudden or unexpected movements, global loss of active and passive range of motion), or shoulder instability (evidenced by a combination of orthopaedic tests such as apprehension and relocation tests, Jerk, Kim and posterior tests, along with and clinical signs like neuromuscular function impairment, history of instability, lesion mechanisms, worries that their shoulder could dislocate during activities);
3. distal neurovascular symptoms (e.g., thoracic outlet syndrome, venous thromboembolism);
4. previous shoulder surgery;
5. corticosteroid injection administered within the past 3 months;
6. symptomatic acromioclavicular joint pathology;
7. currently receiving conservative management for their shoulder pain (excluding medication for RA and OA),
8. absenteeism from work (unable to work at least 30 hours per week or on sick leave).

Where it's running

• Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale (Cirris)
  Québec, Quebec, Canada Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Philippe Meidinger, PT, PhD student, PT, PhD student — Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale (Cirris)
• Study coordinator: Jean-Sébastien Roy Jean-Sébastien Roy, PT, PhD
• Email: jean-sebastien.roy@fmed.ulaval.ca
• Phone: 418-529-9141

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Heart Rate Variability and Rheumatoid Arthritis: What HRV Looks Like with RA

  This study checks whether continuous HRV data from an Oura ring can reflect RA disease activity in adults with RA.

  Recruiting University of Central Florida · Orlando, Florida · NCT07878975

• Night Pain Module for Rotator Cuff-Related Shoulder Pain

  Researchers are testing a short set of questions to measure night pain in people with rotator cuff–related shoulder pain to see if it reliably describes how sleep is affected.

  Recruiting at 3 sites Istanbul Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital · Istanbul and 2 other locations · NCT07838233

• Discontinuing MTX or LEF in RA Patients on TNF Inhibitors

  This trial tests whether stopping methotrexate or leflunomide while continuing a TNF inhibitor is not worse for disease control in adults with rheumatoid arthritis.

  Recruiting Phase 4 Sint Maartenskliniek · Nijmegen, Gelderland and 3 other locations · NCT07802678

• FT839 therapy for autoimmune diseases

  This trial tests FT839, given alone or with rituximab, to see if it is safe and can help people with certain autoimmune diseases who have not responded to other treatments.

  Recruiting Phase 1/2 Fate Therapeutics · Fullerton, California · NCT07800871

• Nociplastic Pain in SAPS: A Look at Pain Types in Shoulder Pain

  This study tests how common nociplastic pain is among people with subacromial pain syndrome who have shoulder pain for at least 3 months.

  Recruiting Vejle Hospital · Vejle · NCT07792434

• Pain phenotype and response to corticosteroid injection in SAPS

  This study tests whether people with subacromial pain syndrome who have a nociplastic pain pattern respond differently to a corticosteroid injection than those without that pattern.

  Recruiting Vejle Hospital · Vejle · NCT07792421

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.