Tight Control for Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy (GREAT)

January 13, 2026 updated by: Nantes University Hospital

Efficacy of Tight Treatment in Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy: a Randomized Controlled Trial Versus Standard Standard Management

The main objective of the study is to determine whether tight management of patients in early rotator cuff tendinopathy would lead to better clinical improvement than standard management. In a randomized study, we propose to compare two types of management, with a tight control group having one consultation per month for the first 3 months, in order to readapt or intensify management, whereas the control group will only be seen at 3 months after inclusion. We hypothesize that this close follow-up will lead to more rapid clinical improvement and reduce the transition to chronicity and the associated costs (inclusion of a medico-economic analysis taking into account, in particular, healthcare consumption and time off work).

Study Overview

Status

Status

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

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

Shoulder pain is a frequent reason for consultation, with a lifetime prevalence of 67%. Every year, around 1% of adults over 45 consult primary care because of shoulder pain. Of these, rotator cuff disorders account for around 70%. Pain associated with limited function has an impact on activities of daily living, and on professional activities, since the peak prevalence is between the ages of 45 and 64. They also represent a very costly problem, given the repeated absences from work they entail. Musculoskeletal disorders recognized as occupational illnesses are on the rise, with over 42,000 cases reported in France in 2012, 32% of them involving the shoulder. In 2006, the disease was estimated to have caused the loss of 7 million working days. A Swedish study also showed that the cost associated with painful shoulders was mainly represented by sick leave (84%).

Management of rotator cuff disorders initially involves symptomatic drug therapy (painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories), combined with rest and rehabilitation. Then, in case of insufficient improvement, subacromial steroid injection is often proposed. Despite the frequency of the condition, there are no established recommendations for the management of these patients. However, a recent study showed that the combination of posture advice and subacromial steroid injection was a more cost-effective strategy than either physiotherapy alone or infiltration alone. When we look at patients' outcome, chronic pain and impaired function are frequently seen, since 30-50% of patients still have symptoms after 1-2 years. It is therefore important to optimize the medical management of these patients, especially as at the stage of tendinopathy without rupture because surgical management is not always able to provide clinically significant benefits in terms of pain, function or quality of life.

In some chronic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, it has been shown that early and tight control leads to better clinical results, as treatments are regularly and closely adapted to predefined objectives (remission or low disease activity). A significant improvement was also observed in diabetic patients under tight control leading to reduction in the risk of progression of retinal and neurological complications and significantly decreased risk of cardiovascular events.

The GREAT protocol is a prospective, randomized, multicenter study comparing two groups of patients:

  • In the experimental or "tight control" group, patients will be seen every month for the first 3 months of follow-up. During these consultations, shoulder pain and function will be assessed. Treatment adjustments will be proposed in line with predefined objectives.
  • In the control group, patients will have the usual follow-up for this indication, i.e. a follow-up consultation 3 months after the 1st consultation with the rheumatologist to assess their clinical course.

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 (Estimated)

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.
156

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 Locations

  • France
      • Angers, France, 49033
        • Recruiting
        • CHU Angers
        • Contact:
      • Brest, France, 29200
      • Chambray-lès-Tours, France, 37170
      • Cholet, France, 49325
      • La Roche-sur-Yon, France, 85925
      • Le Mans, France, 72037
        • Recruiting
        • CH du Mans
        • Contact:
      • Nantes, France, 44093
      • Rennes, France, 35203

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria :

Patient with new-onset shoulder pain related to rotator cuff tendinopathy

  • Age between 18 and 65
  • Shoulder pain on activity for less than 6 months with VAS≥4/10 and/or OSS≥20
  • Pain compatible with rotator cuff tendinopathy according to the rotator cuff tendinopathy according to the BESS (British Elbow and Shoulder Society) guidelines

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Contraindication to steroid injections
  • Shoulder pain related to trauma (dislocation, fracture) or acute tendon rupture requiring short-term surgery
  • Steroid injection already performed on the shoulder studied for the current episode
  • Neurological pathology affecting the shoulder
  • Other shoulder disorders (inflammatory arthritis, frozen shoulder, glenohumeral joint instability, pain associated with acromioclavicular arthropathy)
  • Tendon calcification > 0.5 cm.
  • Previous shoulder surgery
  • Full-thickness tear of one tendon
  • Pregnant women

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: None (Open Label)

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.
Experimental: Tight control group
Patients will be seen every month for the first 3 months of follow-up During these consultations, shoulder pain and function will be assessed. Treatment adjustments (steroid injections, drugs and physiotherapy) will be proposed in line with predefined objectives.
Other: tight control management
Patients will be seen every month for the first 3 months of follow-up During these consultations, shoulder pain and function will be assessed. Treatment adjustments (steroid injections, drugs and physiotherapy) will be proposed in line with predefined objectives.
Active Comparator: Control group
Patients will have the usual follow-up for this indication, i.e. a follow-up consultation 3 months after the 1st consultation with the rheumatologist to assess their clinical course.
Other: standard follow-up
Patients are monitored according to standard practice

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
Oxford Shoulder Score
Time Frame: 6 months
Functional score including 12 items rated between 0 and 4 (total score/48) (best score = 48)
6 months

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
Oxford Shoulder Score
Time Frame: 3 months and 12 months
Functional score including 12 items rated between 0 and 4 (total score/48) (best score = 48)
3 months and 12 months
pain at motion
Time Frame: 3 Months, 6 months, 12 months
Visual Analogic Scale / 100 mm
3 Months, 6 months, 12 months
Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire
Time Frame: 3 Months, 6 months, 12 months
10-item questionnaire developed to assess the confidence people with ongoing pain have in performing activities while in pain.
3 Months, 6 months, 12 months
Insomnia Severity Index
Time Frame: 3 Months, 6 months, 12 months
7 item auto-questionnaire
3 Months, 6 months, 12 months
number of shoulder surgeries
Time Frame: 12 months
patients requiring shoulder surgery to manage their shoulder pain and/or disability
12 months
medico-economic study
Time Frame: 12 months
Incremental cost-utility ratio (cost per QALY, Quality- Adjusted Life-Years)
12 months

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.
Nantes University Hospital

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.
November 25, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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.
November 25, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

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.
November 25, 2027

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).
July 18, 2024

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.
July 18, 2024

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.
July 24, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

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.
January 15, 2026

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.
January 13, 2026

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.
January 1, 2026

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.
  • RC23_0421

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

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.

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