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A Neuromuscular Exercise Program for Patients With Anterior Shoulder Instability

A Neuromuscular Exercise Program for Patients With Anterior Shoulder Instability: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02371928
Acronym
SINEX
Enrollment
56
Registered
2015-02-26
Start date
2015-02-28
Completion date
2017-06-30
Last updated
2018-03-09

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

Conditions

Musculoskeletal Diseases, Shoulder Dislocation

Keywords

Shoulder, Instability, Neuromuscular, Physiotherapy, Exercise, Dislocation, Recurrence

Brief summary

This study is designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of a supervised neuromuscular exercise program versus a standard home exercise program for patients with post-traumatic symptomatic anterior shoulder instability. Participants with at least one week of symptom duration are randomly assigned to either a 12-week structured, supervised Shoulder Instability Neuromuscular EXercise (SINEX) program versus a standard HOMe EXercise (HOMEX) program. The H1-hypothesis is that the SINEX program results in a greater increase in quality of life and physical function than the HOMEX program at the primary endpoint at three months follow-up from baseline

Detailed description

A common, and very painful, injury for individuals in their second and third decades is a traumatic dislocated shoulder. This injury accounts for almost 50% of all joint dislocations registered in the emergency departments. Due to post-traumatic laxity and injuries to the surrounding shoulder tissue, one major problem is the risk of developing a chronic recurrent instable shoulder affecting patients both physically and psychologically decreasing their overall quality of life. Biomechanically, proprioceptive changes and decreased sensorimotor control are found in patients with post-traumatic shoulder instability inhibiting the ability to control and stabilize the glenohumeral joint. In other similar musculoskeletal disorders, recent studies clearly shows positive effects of progressive neuromuscular exercise. Finally, no studies have yet investigated the effect of a structured, physical exercise-training regime based on neuromuscular principles targeting the shoulder joint. This trial is performed as a randomized, assessor-blinded, controlled multi-center trial with cooperation from various shoulder outpatient clinics located at different hospitals in The Region of Southern and Northern Denmark.

Interventions

Exercises can be individually progressed from basic to elite level. Low load exercises are performed every day with 2 sets of 20-25 repetitions whereas high load exercises are performed three times per week with 2 sets of 8-12 repetitions. Exercises are progressed using the following components: arm-position, load, speed, open/closed eyes, stable/unstable surfaces. Patients have online access to instructions and video recordings of all exercises and progression levels. Patients are trained to continuously evaluate their own shoulder function and to adjust the exercise levels themselves at home. Supervision will be given two times a week for the first two weeks and then once a week for the remaining period.

Strengthening of the rotator cuff muscles are performed with the use of elastic bands (shoulder internal and external rotation besides abduction in scapular plane) whereas mobility/strengthening exercise for the scapular muscles are performed through weight-bearing positions and movements of the upper extremity. All exercises are performed three times a week with 2 sets of 10 repetitions.

Sponsors

Region of Southern Denmark
CollaboratorOTHER
The Danish Rheumatism Association
CollaboratorOTHER
Aalborg University Hospital
CollaboratorOTHER
University of Southern Denmark
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 39 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Age between 18-39 2. Minimum one radiographic verified anterior shoulder dislocation (total dissociation of the humeral head to the glenoid) 3. Limited ability to maintain a desired level of physical activity (sports/leisure/work) due to pain and/or symptoms in the affected shoulder within the latest week.

Exclusion criteria

1. Humeral fracture and/or bony bankart (visible on conventional radiographs at the time of presentation) warranted for surgery decided by the orthopedic (no other axial or appendicular musculoskeletal injury) 2. Prior surgery in affected shoulder joint 3. \>5 anterior shoulder dislocations (verified by journal or subjective evaluation) 4. Suspected competing diagnosis (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, neurological disorders, fibromyalgia, schizophrenia, suicidal threatened, borderline personality disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder 5. Sensory and motor deficits in neck and shoulder 6. Pregnancy 7. Inadequacy in written and spoken Danish 8. Not willing or able to attend 12 weeks of supervised exercise therapy

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI)Primary: 3 months. Other: 12, 24 monthsThe patient reported outcome, WOSI, consists of four domains covering Physical Symptoms, Sport/Recreation/Work, Lifestyle and Emotions with 21-item questionnaires in all. Each item is scored using a horizontal visual scale ranging from 0 to 100 mm (0-2100, with 0 as the level of no trouble).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in the four sub-scales (domains) of WOSI3,12, 24 monthsQuestionnaire
Global Perceived Effect3 monthsQuestionnaire
Change in Constant-Murley Shoulder Score3 months100-point scoring system with self-reported and objective measurements included.
Number of changes in positive clinical tests for anterior shoulder instability3 monthsProvocative clinical tests for anterior shoulder instability will be used to measure the number of positive and negative tests (Apprehension, relocation, surprise test)
Change in shoulder joint position sense3 monthsRe-positioning test of the affected shoulder in abduction and flexion with the use of laser pointer measurements.
Number of participants with adverse events3 monthsOpen-probe questioning at 3 months follow-up besides any adverse events during the 12-week exercise program registered by the physiotherapists supervising the patients.
Change in Euro Qol 5D Index (EQ-5D)3,12, 24 monthsQuality of life questionnaire
Change in Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia3,12, 24 monthsFear of movement and re-injury questionnaire
Change in Patient Specific Functioning Scale3 monthsQuestionnaire

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in number of sites with pain (exploratory)3 monthsSelf-reported pain registration within the previous 24 hours shaded on a region-divided body chart.
Change in pain scores3, 12, 24 monthsUsing 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS) with anchor points no pain and worst imaginable pain in various situations.
Change in maximum isometric muscle strength3 monthsMeasured bilaterally in 90 degrees of abduction in the scapular plane using an Isoforce dynamometer.
Baseline demographics and other relevant information (age, sex, symptom intensity and duration, number of shoulder dislocations, medical use, prior physical treatment, Time to return to sport or work, )Baseline and 3,12, 24 monthsQuestionnaire
Change in mechanical allodynia (exploratory)3 monthsPain pressure threshold measured in the affected shoulder using a handheld algometer (Algometer Type II) at four sites (m. pec. major, the deltoid m., m. trapezius superior and m. levator scapula) and one site at opposite m. tibialis anterior.

Countries

Denmark

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 10, 2026