NCT06587399

Comparison of Manual Therapy Versus Radial Shock Waves in the Shoulder Pain Treatment

Comparison of Manual Therapy Versus Low-medium Energy Radial Shock Waves in the Treatment of Subacromial Syndrome in a Randomized Clinical Trial

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 88 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Alcala · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Subacromial syndrome represents the third leading cause of pain in the general population. There is no clear pathophysiological explanation, nor a specific treatment. Manual therapy stands out as one of the reference treatments for this disease, however, it is complex to develop a specific protocol. On the other hand, shock waves have still not received adequate attention in the treatment of this pathology. The aim of this study will focus on using manual treatment using ischemic pressure, joint mobilizations and myofascial techniques in comparison to shock wave therapy to determine which is more effective. This study will be a randomized, single-blind clinical trial with third-party evaluation. In it 88 subjects suffering from subacromial syndrome will participate. 44 patients will receive treatment through manual therapy over 6 weeks and other 44 patients through low-med energy radial shock waves for 6 weeks. All subjects will complete their treatment with a 12-week home-based therapeutic exercise program. The main endpoint of the study will be pain measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) in motion. Pain will also be assessed using the VAS scale at rest and overnight. The Spadi Spanish version questionnaire will be used, shoulder strength will be measured using a handheld dynamometer and the ranges of motion will be measured. Data will be measured before and one year after treatment.

Conditions

• Shoulder Impingement
• Shoulder Pain

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Manual therapy treatment	Joint mobilization techniques will be applied to the shoulder joint complex, adapted to the subjects' degree of irritability. The muscular trigger points of the shoulder muscles will be treated using a pressure release technique applied for 60 seconds. In addition, the subjects will carry out a 12-week home-based therapeutic exercise program.
OTHER	Radial shock wave treatment	The treatment will be carried out with 1 session per week for 6 weeks. For this purpose, a radial shock wave generator will be used, at a frequency of 8 to 12 Hz, 2000 pulses/session and with a pressure of 2.5 to 4.0 bar. Between 3 and 5 points will be treated per session: insertion of the supraspinatus muscle, dorsolateral area under the acromion and a maximum of 3 trigger points of the rotator cuff muscles. In addition, the subjects will carry out a 12-week home therapeutic exercise program.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-09-30
• Primary completion: 2026-09-15
• Completion: 2026-09-15
• First posted: 2024-09-19
• Last updated: 2025-06-03

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Spain