NCT07309796

Strengthening Exercises for Humeral Head Depressor Muscles

The Effect of Strengthening Exercises for Humeral Head Depressor Muscles on Clinical Outcomes After Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 27 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Hacettepe University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 65 Years – 90 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Postoperative rehabilitation after reverse shoulder arthroplasty aims to improve pain control, range of motion, and functional capacity. However, studies examining the effects of strengthening exercises targeting the humeral head depressor muscles are limited. This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the effects of adding a specific strengthening program to standard rehabilitation on pain, range of motion, quality of life, and functional outcomes.

Detailed description

Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is an effective surgical method, particularly in cases of massive rotator cuff tears that lead to irreversible loss of shoulder function. The primary goals of postoperative rehabilitation are to reduce pain, improve shoulder joint functions, optimize scapulothoracic rhythm, and safely restore functional use. However, studies examining the effects of specific strengthening exercises targeting the humeral head depressor muscle group (latissimus dorsi, teres major, infraspinatus, etc.) on clinical outcomes are quite limited. This study aims to evaluate the effects of a specific strengthening protocol designed for the humeral head depressor muscles following reverse shoulder arthroplasty on pain, range of motion (ROM), quality of life, functional status, and psychological well-being. Planned as a randomized controlled trial, the research will apply an additional humeral head depressor muscle strengthening program to the standard conventional rehabilitation protocol in the experimental group, while the control group will receive only the standard rehabilitation program.

Conditions

• Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty
• Depressor Muscle Training
• Shoulder Rehabilitation

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Conventional Rehabilitation Group	After randomization and baseline assessments, participants will undergo a standard 6-week postoperative shoulder rehabilitation program, consisting of range-of-motion exercises, scapular stabilization training, and progressive strengthening. No additional depressor muscle-specific exercises will be applied.
OTHER	Depressor Muscle Strengthening Group	After randomization and baseline assessments, participants will receive a 6-week rehabilitation program consisting of conventional postoperative shoulder rehabilitation combined with a specific strengthening protocol targeting the shoulder depressor muscles.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-01-02
• Primary completion: 2026-09-02
• Completion: 2026-12-02
• First posted: 2025-12-30
• Last updated: 2026-03-03

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)