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Impact of a Cueing Device on Upper Extremity Muscle Strength in Swimmers

Impact of a Cueing Device on Upper Extremity Muscle Strength in Swimmers: A 6-Week Training Protocol Using Scapular Stabilization Exercises.

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06923930
Enrollment
36
Registered
2025-04-11
Start date
2025-04-20
Completion date
2025-07-25
Last updated
2026-04-13

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

Conditions

Healthy Volunteers Only

Keywords

External cue, Shoulder Stability, Strength Exercise, Adolescent Swimmer

Brief summary

The goal of this study is to find out if a tool called an external cueing device (ECD) can help young swimmers improve their shoulder function. An ECD is a tool that limits arm movement and gives the swimmer a target to focus on while doing exercises. The main questions this study will answer are: * Does using an ECD during certain exercises improve muscle strength? * Does using an ECD while exercising help with shoulder stability? Participants will: * Test their shoulder muscle strength and stability at the beginning of the study. * Complete 8 exercises as part of their regular dry-land training program for 6 weeks. * Repeat the same tests after 3 weeks and again at the end of the study.

Interventions

OTHERExercise

Shoulder stabilization exercise protocol contains 8 exercises ("I", "Y", "T", "i", "w", alternating arm "I"/"i", "n", and supine serratus punch) completed for 8 repetitions each for 3 weeks, and in weeks 4-6 completed at 2 sets of 8 repetitions each.

DEVICEExternal Cueing Device

A portable product that provides movement pattern constraints to ensure improved exercise form, and provides a target zone for exercise effort

Sponsors

University of South Alabama
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Intervention model description

Exercise Program Alone Exercise Program with External Cueing Device

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Healthy Volunteer Adolescent Swimmers * Member of CMSA

Exclusion criteria

* Swimmers under the age of 11 years of age. * Swimmers that are not registered as athletes through United States Swimming. * Swimmers that are not enrolled in Age Group III, Senior 1, Senior 2, or Senior 3 * Swimmers not attending practice due to an injury (i.e., shoulder, back, etc.). * Swimmers currently not participating in a dryland program offered through CMSA.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change from baseline in isometric muscle torque production at 180 degrees shoulder abductionBaseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks.Handheld dynamometer assessment of force production times lever arm distance (Newton.meters) of prone shoulder elevation in 180 degrees of abduction completed at baseline, after 3 and 6 weeks of the training program.
Change from baseline in isometric muscle torque production at 135 degrees shoulder abductionBaseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks.Handheld dynamometer assessment of force production times lever arm distance (Newton.meters) of prone shoulder elevation in 135 degrees of abduction completed at baseline, after 3 and 6 weeks of the training program.
Change from baseline in isometric muscle torque production at 90 degrees shoulder abductionBaseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks.Handheld dynamometer assessment of force production times lever arm distance (Newton.meters) of prone shoulder elevation in 90 degrees of abduction completed at baseline, after 3 and 6 weeks of the training program.
Change from baseline in modified Athletic Shoulder Test at 180 degrees shoulder abductionBaseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks.Maximum isometric force production with lying prone into a handheld dynamometer at a given lever arm distance results in muscle torque (Newton.meters) reading. This portion of the test is conducted at 180 degrees of abduction.
Change from baseline in modified Athletic Shoulder Test at 135 degrees shoulder abductionBaseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks.Maximum isometric force production with lying prone into a handheld dynamometer at a given lever arm distance results in muscle torque (Newton.meters) reading. This portion of the test is conducted at 135 degrees of abduction.
Change from baseline in modified Athletic Shoulder Test at 90 degrees shoulder abductionBaseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks.Maximum isometric force production with lying prone into a handheld dynamometer at a given lever arm distance results in muscle torque (Newton.meters) reading. This portion of the test is conducted at 90 degrees of abduction.
Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test Power ScoreBaseline, 6 weeks.Two strips of tape are placed 36 inches apart. Participants assume a push up position (male) or pushup on knees (Female) and are instructed to reach across and touch the opposing hand alternating arms. Maximum number of touches in 15 seconds is recorded. Normalization is made by multiplying the raw touch score by 0.68 x Subject weight in Kg (representing the mass on the head arms and trunk) and dividing by the 15 seconds. Higher number indicates increased shoulder stability.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test Raw Touch ScoreBaseline, 6 weeks.Two strips of tape are placed 36 inches apart. Participants assume a push up position (male) or pushup on knees (Female) and are instructed to reach across and touch the opposing hand alternating arms. Maximum number of touches in 15 seconds is recorded. Higher number of touches indicates increased shoulder stability
Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test Touch ScoreBaseline, 6 weeks.Two strips of tape are placed 36 inches apart. Participants assume a push up position (male) or pushup on knees (Female) and are instructed to reach across and touch the opposing hand alternating arms. Maximum number of touches in 15 seconds is recorded. Touches are adjusted for subject height by dividing raw touch by subject height (in inches based on prior literature). Higher number of touches indicates increased shoulder stability
Maximal Prone Arm Elevation at 180 degrees abductionBaseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks.Distance from floor to wrist crease, measured in cm.
Maximal Prone Arm Elevation at 135 degrees abductionBaseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks.Distance from floor to wrist crease, measured in cm.
Maximal Prone Arm Elevation at 90 degrees abductionBaseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks.Distance from floor to wrist crease, measured in cm.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 14, 2026