Scapular Stabilization During Manual Horizontal Adduction Stretches and Its Effect on Increasing Posterior Shoulder Flexibility

The Effect of Scapular Stabilization During Horizontal Adduction Stretching on Passive Internal Rotation and Posterior Shoulder Tightness in Young Female Volleyball Athletes.

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT02085200

Enrollment

Registered

2014-03-12

Start date

2013-06-30

Completion date

2013-12-31

Last updated

2014-03-12

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Posterior Shoulder Tightness

Keywords

glenohumeral internal rotation deficit, overhead athlete, shoulder exercise, posterior glenohumeral capsule, posteroinferior glenohumeral ligament, posterior rotator cuff

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if stabilizing the scapula (shoulder blade) during a common shoulder stretch is more effective at improving shoulder range of motion than not stabilizing the scapula. Investigators hypothesize that scapular stabilization during horizontal adduction stretching will demonstrate greater gains in shoulder range of motion than stretching without scapular stabilization.

Interventions

OTHERhorizontal adduction stretch with scapular stabilization

Scapular is stabilized during manual horizontal adduction stretch

OTHERHorizontal adduction stretch without scapular stabilization

Scapula stabilization is not performed during horizontal adduction stretch

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE (Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

FEMALE

Age

15 Years to 21 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* athletes with at least two years of volleyball experience * athletes with no current shoulder pain * athletes between the ages of 15 and 21 * athletes with a 10 degree or greater difference in internal rotation between shoulders

Exclusion criteria

* athletes currently experiencing shoulder pain * athletes having less than two years of volleyball experience * athletes not meting inclusion criteria

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Change in Posterior Shoulder Tightness	Change from baseline posterior shoulder tightness to immediately following manual stretching. The baseline is measured, followed by 3 stretches held for 25 seconds and then the follow up measure is taken. This is the conclusion of this measure.	An inclinometer is used to measure posterior shoulder tightness.

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Change in Internal Rotation	Change from baseline internal rotation to immediately following manual stretching. The baseline is measured, followed by 3 stretches held for 25 seconds and then the follow up measure is taken. This is the conclusion of this measure.	An inclinometer is used to measure internal rotation

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026