Efficacy of Eccentric Exercises in Individuals With Frozen Shoulder

June 27, 2025 updated by: Pablo Policastro, Hospital Durand, Argentina

Efficacy of Eccentric Exercises in Individuals With Frozen Shoulder: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Frozen shoulder is a musculoskeletal condition with a strong negative impact on activities of daily living, producing pain, disability, anxiety, and sleep disorders. It has a worldwide prevalence of 5.3%, increasing from 10 to 38% in patients with diabetes and thyroid conditions. This clinical entity manifests itself mainly in women between 40 and 65 years of age. Its resolution time is long and can reach 42 months with symptoms that persist throughout life.

In the clinical evaluation, patients with Frozen Shoulder are manifested mainly by presenting mobility deficits. Previous studies described different structural alterations that may justify this clinical condition and its consequences, such as, for example, fibrosis of the coracohumeral ligament, alterations of the rotator interval, and of the axillary recess.

Although passive structures are believed to be primarily involved in this condition, A series of five cases in which patients with frozen shoulder presented a significant increase in mobility after a general anesthetic block. The data obtained from this study and the different complications presented by patients with CH suggest that it is necessary to further understand the role of the rotator cuff in this clinical condition.

Eccentric exercises consist of contracting the muscle to control or decelerate a load while the muscle or tendon is lengthening or remaining stretched. This intervention has been proposed for the treatment of tendinopathies in different body regions.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

A randomized controlled clinical trial with two parallel groups will be carried out. Evaluators will be blinded to the treatment group and therapists will be unique to each group. This study will follow the CONSORT guidelines.

Randomization by blocks between groups will be carried out through the website www.randomization.com and the sequence will be stored in sealed and opaque envelopes to maintain allocation confidentiality. This process will be carried out by an independent researcher, who will not be involved in the assessment and treatment. The allocation of subjects will be revealed to the researcher responsible for the treatment by opening the envelope before the start of the intervention. The researcher responsible for the evaluation will be blinded to the treatment group. The individuals will be blinded in relation to the study hypothesis and will not have contact with the participants of the same or the other group.

Initially, all participants will undergo screening to assess the inclusion and non-inclusion criteria of the study. All individuals who meet the eligibility criteria will undergo an anamnesis to collect personal, sociodemographic, pain history, and primary and secondary outcomes measurements.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
40

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Argentina
    • Buenos Aires City
      • Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires City, Argentina, 1405
        • Durand Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • History of diffuse-onset shoulder pain of at least one month
  • Gradual loss of passive external rotation of at least 50% compared to the contralateral side

Exclusion Criteria:

- History of shoulder fracture/ surgery

  • Shoulder pain reproduced by passive movement of the cervical spine
  • History of rheumatoid arthritis
  • Shoulder immobilization for more than 5 days
  • Bilateral frozen shoulder

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Conventional treatment
Physical therapy: education, mobilizations, stretch, active exercises, home excercises.
Other: Physical therapy interventions
mobilization, stretch, education, eccentric exercises
Experimental: Conventional treatment + eccentric exercises
Physical therapy: education, mobilizations, stretch, active exercises, home exercises, eccentric exercises.
Other: Physical therapy interventions
mobilization, stretch, education, eccentric exercises

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Shoulder Function
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks. In the follow-up at 3 months and 9 months from the end of treatment.
American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scale (ASES). This scale has a score between 0 to 100. When the score is more close to 0 Worst is the function of the shoulder and when is approximate 100, it is better.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks. In the follow-up at 3 months and 9 months from the end of treatment.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Range of Movement
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks. In the follow-up at 3 months and 9 months from the end of treatment.
An inclinometer will assess flexion, external rotation, and internal rotation range of movement. The higher the value, the better.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks. In the follow-up at 3 months and 9 months from the end of treatment.
Perceived Pain
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks. In the follow-up at 3 months and 9 months from the end of treatment.
The perceived pain is going to be assessed by a Visual Analogue Scale from 0 to 10, where the score close to 0 is worst, and approximate to 10 is better.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks. In the follow-up at 3 months and 9 months from the end of treatment.
Pennation Angle
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks. In the follow-up at 3 months and 9 months from the end of treatment.
It is going to be assessed by an ultrasound device
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks. In the follow-up at 3 months and 9 months from the end of treatment.
Fear avoidance
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks. In the follow-up at 3 months and 9 months from the end of treatment.
Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire This scale has a score between 0 to 96. When the score is more close to 96 worst is the fear avoidance and when is approximate to 0, it is better.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks. In the follow-up at 3 months and 9 months from the end of treatment.
Perceived Quality of life
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks. In the follow-up at 3 months and 9 months from the end of treatment.
European Quality of Life Scale of five domains (EQ5D-3L). This scale has five items with a score between 1 to 3. When the score is more close to 3 worst is the quality of life and when is approximate to 1, it is better in each item. Also has a visual analogue scale of 100 points to assess the health condition, when the score is more close to 0 worst is the quality of life and when is approximate to 100 it is better.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks. In the follow-up at 3 months and 9 months from the end of treatment.
Muscle Thickness
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks. In the follow-up at 3 months and 9 months from the end of treatment.
It is going to be assessed by an ultrasound device
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks. In the follow-up at 3 months and 9 months from the end of treatment.
Pain Catastrophizing
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks. In the follow-up at 3 months and 9 months from the end of treatment.
Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks. In the follow-up at 3 months and 9 months from the end of treatment.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Hospital Durand, Argentina

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Paula Camargo, PhD, University of São Carlos

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

  • 1. Ryan V, Brown H, Minns Lowe CJ, Lewis JS. The pathophysiology associated with primary (idiopathic) frozen shoulder: A systematic review. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2016 Aug 15;17(1):340. 2. Kelley MJ, McClure PW, Leggin BG. Frozen shoulder: evidence and a proposed model guiding rehabilitation. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2009 Feb;39(2):135-48. 3. Lewis J. Frozen shoulder contracture syndrome - Aetiology, diagnosis and management. Man Ther. 2015 Feb;20(1):2-9. 4. Chan HBY, Pua PY, How CH. Physical therapy in the management of frozen shoulder. Singapore Med J. 2017 Dec;58(12):685-689. 5. Kelley MJ, Shaffer MA, Kuhn JE, Michener LA, Seitz AL, Uhl TL, Godges JJ, McClure PW. Shoulder pain and mobility deficits: adhesive capsulitis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2013 May;43(5):A1-31. 6. Hollmann L, Halaki M, Kamper SJ, Haber M, Ginn KA. Does muscle guarding play a role in range of motion loss in patients with frozen shoulder? Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2018 Oct;37:64-68.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 3, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 27, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 27, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
January 13, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 14, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 20, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 1, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 27, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Policastro.ECA.HombroCongelado

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Frozen Shoulder

Clinical Trials on Physical therapy interventions

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings