Scapular Muscle Activation and Shoulder Performance in Migraine

June 15, 2026 updated by: Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University

INVESTIGATION OF SCAPULAR MUSCLE ACTIVATION AND SHOULDER PERFORMANCE IN INDIVIDUALS WITH MIGRAINE

Migraine is a significant health problem due to its high prevalence and substantial contribution to disability. Individuals with migraine have been reported to exhibit myofascial trigger points, increased pain sensitivity, and altered muscle activation patterns, particularly in the trapezius muscles. As the upper and middle trapezius muscles play critical roles in scapular stability and movement, alterations in these muscles may affect scapular orientation and upper extremity function. However, studies investigating the relationship between trapezius muscle activation, scapular orientation, and upper extremity performance in individuals with migraine are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to compare trapezius muscle activation, scapular orientation, and upper extremity performance between individuals with and without migraine. We hypothesized that individuals with migraine would exhibit altered upper and middle trapezius muscle activation, impaired scapular orientation, and reduced upper extremity performance compared with healthy controls.

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.

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.
Observational

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.
50

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Çubuk
      • Ankara, Çubuk, Turkey (Türkiye), 06760
        • Recruiting
        • Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University
        • Contact:

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

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

Adults diagnosed with migraine according to the ICHD-3 criteria

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged 18-55 years
  • Diagnosed with migraine by a neurologist according to the ICHD-3 criteria
  • Experiencing at least 3 migraine attacks per month
  • Willing to participate and provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of other types of headache disorders
  • History of trauma, fracture, or surgery involving the cranio-cervical region, scapular region, or upper extremity
  • Presence of neurological or inflammatory rheumatic diseases
  • Presence of psychiatric disorders
  • Receiving physiotherapy or rehabilitation for migraine or the cervical, thoracic, or upper extremity regions within the past 6 months
  • Cognitive impairment affecting the understanding of test instructions

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

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Control
Migraine

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
Trapezius muscle activity
Time Frame: Single assessment at baseline
Upper and middle trapezius muscle activations will be assessed on the dominant side using surface electromyography (sEMG). Following skin preparation, EMG sensors will be placed over the upper and middle trapezius muscles according to the recommendations of the Surface Electromyography for the Non-Invasive Assessment of Muscles (SENIAM). Resting muscle activity will be recorded prior to measurements to ensure signal quality. Muscle activations will first be recorded during maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and subsequently during arm elevation in the scapular plane. EMG data will be analyzed using EMGworks software; signals will be filtered, processed using the root mean square (RMS) method, and normalized to each participant's MVIC values, expressed as %MVIC. Additionally, upper trapezius/middle trapezius activation ratios will be calculated, and muscle activation levels will be categorized according to predefined threshold values.
Single assessment at baseline

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
Scapular rotation
Time Frame: Single assessment at baseline
Scapular upward rotation will be assessed using a digital inclinometer at shoulder elevation angles of 0°, 45°, 90°, and 135°. Participants will stand comfortably with the elbow extended and elevate the arm with the thumb pointing upward to the target angles. The inclinometer will be positioned over the scapular spine to measure scapular upward rotation at each angle. Three measurements will be obtained at each position with 30-second rest intervals, and the mean value will be used for analysis.
Single assessment at baseline
Pain
Time Frame: Single assessment at baseline
The pressure pain threshold of the upper trapezius muscle will be assessed using a digital algometer. Measurements will be performed at the midpoint between the C7 vertebra and the acromion using a 1-cm diameter rubber probe. Pressure will be gradually increased until the participant first reports pain or discomfort. Three measurements will be obtained with 30-second intervals, and the mean value (N/m²) will be used for analysis.
Single assessment at baseline
Upper extremity performance
Time Frame: Single assessment at baseline
Upper extremity mobility, stability, and proprioception in a closed kinetic chain will be assessed using the Upper Quarter Y-Balance Test. Participants will perform the test in a push-up position while reaching in the medial, inferolateral, and superolateral directions with the free hand. Reach distances will be recorded in centimeters and normalized to upper extremity length. Composite reach scores will also be calculated, with greater reach distances indicating better upper extremity dynamic balance and function.
Single assessment at baseline

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.
Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University

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 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 1, 2026

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.
July 15, 2026

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).
June 15, 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.
June 15, 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.
June 18, 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.
June 18, 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.
June 15, 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.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

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.
  • 2026076

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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