NCT07072091

Focusing the Shoulder or Considering the Whole-Body in Volleyball Physiotherapy

Focusing the Shoulder or Considering the Whole-Body? A Randomized Controlled Trial on Physiotherapy Protocols for the Painful Shoulder in Volleyball Players

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Trieste · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 17 Years – 30 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Shoulder pain can be common in overhead sports, and in particular, in volleyball. Different physiotherapy protocols can be adopted depending on the suspected pathophysiological mechanisms. Despite most of the protocols rely only on the shoulder district, some research suggests that treating the whole-body might produce better results as it could influence kinematic chains and correct muscle imbalances. The aim of this study will be to compare the effects of two physiotherapy protocols (shoulder focus or whole body) compared to only education without physiotherapy.

Conditions

• Shoulder Pain
• Volleyball Players

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Total body physiotherapy	This intervention consists in 5 weeks of 2 x week 60 min sessions of physiotherapy consisting in active exercise performed in upper limb, trunk, and lower limb muscles, in a whole-body approach.
OTHER	Focus shoulder physiotherapy	This intervention consists in 5 weeks of 2 x week 60 min sessions of physiotherapy consisting in active exercise performed only in the shoulder district, focusing on the trunk-arm muscles.
OTHER	Education	Single education session providing information about posture hygiene and proper warm-up

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-07-20
• Primary completion: 2025-09-01
• Completion: 2025-09-01
• First posted: 2025-07-18
• Last updated: 2025-08-14

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Italy