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

April 7, 2026 updated by: Kevin Strehler, University of South Alabama

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

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.

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.

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.
36

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

  • United States
    • Alabama
      • Mobile, Alabama, United States, 36603
        • Fredericka G. Evans Cultural Centre

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

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

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.

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: Prevention
  • 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: 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. Standard group coaching assistance will be provided.
Other: Exercise
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.
Experimental: Shoulder Stabilization Exercise with External Cueing Device
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. External cueing device provides movement pattern constraint and an external target zone for the individual for each exercise. Standard group coaching assistance will be provided.
Other: Exercise
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.
Device: External Cueing Device
A portable product that provides movement pattern constraints to ensure improved exercise form, and provides a target zone for exercise effort

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
Change from baseline in isometric muscle torque production at 180 degrees shoulder abduction
Time Frame: Baseline, 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.
Baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks.
Change from baseline in isometric muscle torque production at 135 degrees shoulder abduction
Time Frame: Baseline, 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.
Baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks.
Change from baseline in isometric muscle torque production at 90 degrees shoulder abduction
Time Frame: Baseline, 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.
Baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks.
Change from baseline in modified Athletic Shoulder Test at 180 degrees shoulder abduction
Time Frame: Baseline, 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.
Baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks.
Change from baseline in modified Athletic Shoulder Test at 135 degrees shoulder abduction
Time Frame: Baseline, 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.
Baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks.
Change from baseline in modified Athletic Shoulder Test at 90 degrees shoulder abduction
Time Frame: Baseline, 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.
Baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks.
Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test Power Score
Time Frame: Baseline, 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.
Baseline, 6 weeks.

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
Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test Raw Touch Score
Time Frame: Baseline, 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
Baseline, 6 weeks.
Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test Touch Score
Time Frame: Baseline, 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
Baseline, 6 weeks.
Maximal Prone Arm Elevation at 180 degrees abduction
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks.
Distance from floor to wrist crease, measured in cm.
Baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks.
Maximal Prone Arm Elevation at 135 degrees abduction
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks.
Distance from floor to wrist crease, measured in cm.
Baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks.
Maximal Prone Arm Elevation at 90 degrees abduction
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks.
Distance from floor to wrist crease, measured in cm.
Baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks.

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.
University of South Alabama

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

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.
April 20, 2025

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.
July 25, 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.
July 25, 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).
March 29, 2025

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.
April 4, 2025

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.
April 11, 2025

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.
April 13, 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.
April 7, 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.
April 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.
  • 2305310-1/2304240-1

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.

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