Effects of Myofascial Chain Tension Modulation Combined With Scapular Corrective Exercise on Scapular Movement Performance and Functional Outcomes in Tennis Players With Subacromial Impingement Syndrome

January 27, 2026 updated by: China Medical University Hospital
Subacromial Impingement Syndrome (SIS) is characterized by abnormal scapular motion, including decreased upward rotation, increased internal rotation, and excessive anterior tilting, which impair shoulder and arm function. Integrated scapular rehabilitation combines Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) and postural correction exercises. IASTM detects soft tissue restrictions through multidirectional strokes and enhances the pain threshold of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) via reflex hyperemia. Postural correction exercises aim to strengthen weakened muscles and stretch tight ones to improve stability and posture. The combination of these interventions may enhance scapular stability and dynamic control. This study aimed to investigate the effects of integrated scapular rehabilitation on scapular kinematics, movement correction, functional improvement, and pain management in tennis athletes with SIS. A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA was used to analyze pre- and post-intervention effects.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet 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

Participants aged 20 years or older were recruited. Outcome measures included pain intensity, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), shoulder range of motion (flexion, abduction, internal and external rotation), modified Scapular Assistance Test (mSAT), muscle strength (upper, middle, and lower trapezius; serratus anterior; rhomboids; levator scapulae; internal and external rotators), soft tissue elasticity (upper trapezius), myofascial trigger point pain threshold (upper trapezius, pectoralis minor, levator scapulae, rhomboids), subacromial space, and supraspinatus thickness.

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.
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 Contact Backup

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

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Participants were included if they met all of the following conditions:

    1. a VAS score greater than 3 during the Hawkins test (indicating mild to moderate pain),
    2. at least two positive results among the Hawkins test, Neer test, and painful arch test, and
    3. a positive result on the mSAT. Only participants who fulfilled all three criteria were enrolled in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participants were excluded if they had a history of clavicle, scapular, or humeral fractures; shoulder dislocation; or rotator cuff surgery; positive results on the cervical compression test, apprehension test, or drop arm test; had received corticosteroid injections within the past three months; had undergone physical therapy within the past six months; or reported a VAS score higher than 9.

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.
Experimental: Integrated scapular rehabilitation training (Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization+ Exercise)
The integrated scapular rehabilitation training group received a specially designed scapular core rehabilitation program, which included the use of IASTM to inhibit overactive and tight muscles, targeted stretching exercises, strengthening training for elongated or weakened muscles, and finally, movement integration through multi-joint exercises.
Device: Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
IASTM is an assistive instrument designed to reduce the physical effort required by the practitioner and can be applied without a specific directional pattern. It aims to induce localized reactive hyperemia through repeated application, temporarily alter tissue rheological properties, and modulate sensory feedback via cutaneous mechanoreceptors. Its mechanisms involve both mechanical and neurophysiological components.
Device: Elastic band
Elastic resistance bands of different colors were used for resistance training, with training intensity increased or decreased by selecting bands of varying resistance levels.
Active Comparator: Conventional rehabilitation (Stretch+ Exercise)
The conventional rehabilitation training group received only traditional rehabilitation exercises, including stretching and strengthening training.
Device: Elastic band
Elastic resistance bands of different colors were used for resistance training, with training intensity increased or decreased by selecting bands of varying resistance levels.

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
Time Frame
Pain (VAS score during the Hawkins test)
Time Frame: Participants were assessed at time points: prior to the intervention (baseline), immediately three weeks after the intervention, and at a one-month follow-up.
Participants were assessed at time points: prior to the intervention (baseline), immediately three weeks after the intervention, and at a one-month follow-up.

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.
China Medical 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 (Estimated)

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.
February 1, 2026

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.
July 31, 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.
August 31, 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).
January 27, 2026

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 27, 2026

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.
February 4, 2026

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.
February 4, 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 27, 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.
  • CMUH114-REC3-210

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

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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