Skip to content

Routine Rehabilitation Versus Shock Wave Therapy for Scapular Dyskinesis

Routine Rehabilitation Versus Shock Wave Therapy for Patients With Scapular Dyskinesis

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07633340
Enrollment
100
Registered
2026-06-08
Start date
2026-06-01
Completion date
2026-07-01
Last updated
2026-06-10

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

Conditions

Scapular Dyskinesis, Shockwave Therapy

Keywords

Scapular dyskinesis

Brief summary

It has been proposed that altered scapular muscle function can contribute to alterations in shoulder kinematics, which often lead to SD and are frequently associated with other shoulder pathologies, such as RC tears, labrum tears, impingement syndrome, and glenohumeral joint instability. However, whether SD leads to the development of these diseases or is a consequence has yet to be clarified. Changes in scapular kinematics can be attributed not only to altered scapular recruitment patterns (e.g., altered serratus anterior muscle activity) or muscle performance (e.g., force imbalance in the upper and lower trapezius muscles) but also to flexibility deficits in the soft tissue surrounding the scapula, which may restrict normal scapular movement during daily activities and sport- specific movements. Although many studies have investigated the optimal management method, to date, there is no consensus. Conservative approaches involve not only physiotherapy but also other techniques, such as extracorporeal shockwave therapy.

Detailed description

This is a prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomised study. The closed envelop randomization method will be used for the randomization of the patients who will be also blinded to group allocation. The patients will be allocated into two groups:Group I: will be exposed to rESWT once weekly for one month Group II: will be exposed to ShamrESWT once weekly for one month. During the study period, stretching exercises will be similarly given for both groups.

Interventions

DEVICERadial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (active comparator)

Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (r ESWT) will be applied by Dornier AR2 machine (DornierMedTech GmbH, Wessling, Germany) under ultrasound guidance, at periscapular muscles . 1.500 pulses will be applied by an R20 probe with a focusing depth of 4cm. The intensity will be 0.10 mJ to 0.3mJ/mm2 (2.5 bar), with frequency 4 Hz every week for one month for the treatment group and without operating the machine for the sham group . No anesthetic oranalgesic drugs will be administered to patients during the therapy session. Both groups will be put under the same physiotherapeutic program performed by the same well-trained physiatrist.

The Dornier AR2 machine (Dornier MedTechGmbH, Wessling, Germany) used under ultrasound guidance, at affested periscapular muscles . 1.500 pulses will be applied by anR20 probe with intensity of 0.10 mJ to0.3mJ/mm2 (2.5 bar) \& frequency 4 Hz every week for one month without operating the machine.

Sponsors

Tanta University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)

Masking description

This is a prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomised study. The closed envelop randomization method will be used for the randomization of the patients who will be also blinded to group allocation. The assessments will be done by the first physiatrist (A), who will not be involved in patients' sessions. The randomization will be performed by the second physiatrist (B ) who will not be involved in patients'assessment and ESWT sessions . ESWT Sessions for both groups will be will be carried out by the third physiatrist (C ) who will not take part in the assessments or patients'randomization . Both (C) and (A) were blinded to group allocation. The patients will be allocated into two groups: Group I: will be exposed to rESWT once weekly for one month Group II: will be exposed to ShamrESWT once weekly for one month. During the study period, stretching exercises will be similarly given for both groups.

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* This study included 100 patients with scapular dyskinesis. The patients were divided into 2 groups: one group was treated with ESWT and routine rehabilitation, and the second group was treated with routine rehabilitation only. Adult patients with scapular dyskinesia who exhibited signs of dyskinesia for at least 6 months before enrolment in the study will be selected.

Exclusion criteria

1. History of shoulder or thorax trauma or surgery. 2. The back pain involved the cervical spine and thoracic spine. 3. Participants with neurologic deficits 4. history of inflammatory conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis 4- Certain situations where shockwave therapy is not recommended. These include: Absolute contraindications: * Active infection (i.e., osteomyelitis) * Malignant tumors, particularly at the treatment site (focused shockwave) * Pregnancy Relative Contraindications: * The brain or nerve in the treatment focus * Treatment focused on the lungs or pleura * Significant coagulopathy (increased risk of bleeding, such as haemophilia) * Epiphyseal plate in treatment focus Important considerations: * Cardiac pacemakers or other implantable devices * Current nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use * Current anticoagulation use * Recent corticosteroid injections (receiving a steroid injection into the area to be treated within the previous 12 weeks).

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Improvement by Scapular Assistance Test and/or Scapular Dyskinesis Test1 month after intervention

Countries

Egypt

Contacts

CONTACTAliaa Mamdouh Abdelaziz Farag, MD
aliaa.mamdouh@med.tanta.edu.eg01069468486

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Jun 11, 2026