Who benefits most from patient education alone for rotator cuff–related shoulder pain?
Official title: Which Patient Group Shows Greater Improvement With Patient Education Alone in Rotator Cuff-Related Shoulder Pain? - A Cohort Study
Run by Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa · NCT07324343 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether patient education alone helps people aged 18–65 with rotator cuff–related shoulder pain reduce pain and improve function.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 116 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Istanbul) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 1, 2025 |
| Main results expected | September 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | September 1, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | November 3, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07324343 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are people aged 18–65 with activity-related rotator cuff–related shoulder pain lasting at least 4 weeks but under 12 months, with pain ≥3/10, who can attend in-person sessions and provide consent.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with full-thickness or massive rotator cuff tears, frozen shoulder, prior shoulder surgery, recent injections or physical therapy, neurological or psychiatric conditions that prevent participation, or pain lasting over 12 months are unlikely to benefit from education alone.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Researchers will enroll 116 people aged 18–65 who present with rotator cuff–related shoulder pain at İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa's shoulder clinic. The Patient Knowledge Questionnaire (PKQ‑RCRSP) will be translated into Turkish, validated, and administered at baseline and after one week. Participants will receive two face‑to‑face patient education sessions and be followed at 4, 12, and 24 weeks to measure pain (NPRS), function (SPADI), global change (GRC), illness perception (B‑IPQ), knowledge (PKQ‑RCRSP), health literacy (HLS‑EU‑Q6) and activity (IPAQ). The cohort design will compare which patient subgroups show greater clinical improvement with education alone.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a low-cost, non-invasive way to reduce pain and improve function for many people with rotator cuff–related shoulder pain.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research combining education with exercise has often improved outcomes, but evidence specifically for education alone is limited and results have been mixed.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Individuals aged 18-65 years * Shoulder pain persisting for at least 4 weeks * Diagnosed by an orthopedic physician with impingement, subacromial bursitis, rotator cuff (RC) tendinopathy, or partial tear * Activity-related pain ≥3 on the NPRS * Cognitively able to understand the education and provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * History of shoulder surgery * Diagnosis of frozen shoulder, full-thickness or massive rotator cuff (RC) tear, or instability * Presence of neurological or psychiatric conditions that prevent exercise * History of physical therapy-rehabilitation or injection treatment within the past 6 months * Pain persisting for more than 12 months
Where it's running
-
İstanbul University Cerrahpasa Faculty of Health Sciences, İstanbul
Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye) Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Merve KOYUNCU CENİKLİ Research asistant, MSc
- Email: merve.cenikli@iuc.edu.tr
- Phone: +90(0212) 414 15 00
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Dual-task shoulder exercise program for rotator cuff–related pain
This trial tests whether doing shoulder exercises together with simple cognitive tasks helps adults with rotator cuff–related shoulder pain reduce pain and improve function compared with standard shoulder exercises.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Attention-shift exercise program for rotator cuff–related shoulder pain
This will test whether doing shoulder exercises while also performing attention-shifting movements reduces pain and improves function for people with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain.
-
Hybrid mobile health and telerehabilitation vs in-person physiotherapy for shoulder pain
This study tests whether a mobile-health program, tele-rehabilitation sessions, or conventional physiotherapy can help adults with Subacromial Pain Syndrome.
-
Functional electrical stimulation plus shoulder exercises for older adults with rotator cuff pain
In older adults with rotator cuff–related shoulder pain, this study tests whether adding functional electrical stimulation to a shoulder exercise program improves muscle coordination and reduces impingement compared with exercises alone.
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.