Device-Assisted Balance Training for People With Shoulder Impingement

October 31, 2026 updated by: Amine Ataç, Istanbul Gedik University

The Effect of Balance Training on Central Sensitization and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Subacromial Impingement Syndrome: A Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled study will examine whether adding device-assisted balance training to conventional physiotherapy improves symptoms related to increased pain sensitivity, shoulder pain, shoulder function, and balance in adults with subacromial impingement syndrome. A total of 78 participants will be randomly assigned to receive either balance training plus conventional physiotherapy or conventional physiotherapy alone for six weeks. Assessments will be performed before and after treatment by an assessor who is unaware of group allocation.

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

This assessor-blinded, two-arm randomized controlled trial compares device-assisted balance training added to conventional physiotherapy with conventional physiotherapy alone in adults with unilateral subacromial impingement syndrome. The treatment period is six weeks. The primary outcome is the change in Central Sensitization Inventory. Secondary outcomes include shoulder pain and disability, fear of movement, pressure pain thresholds, and static and dynamic balance. Outcomes are assessed at baseline and immediately after treatment.

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.
78

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

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 to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age between 18 and 80 years.
  • Diagnosis of unilateral subacromial impingement syndrome.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of trauma or surgery within the past six months.
  • Physiotherapy within the past six months.
  • Intra-articular injection within the past six months.
  • Cognitive impairment.

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: Balance exercise protocol

Participants receive BOBO device-assisted balance exercises combined with upper-limb movements in addition to conventional physiotherapy for six weeks. Conventional physiotherapy includes shoulder range-of-motion exercises, heat application, and non-invasive electrophysical modalities prescribed by the rehabilitation physician.
Other: Balance exercise protocol

Participants receive balance exercises using a BOBO balance board combined with upper-limb movements, in addition to conventional physiotherapy, for six weeks.

Other: Conventional exercise protocol

Participants receive conventional physiotherapy consisting of shoulder range-of-motion exercises, heat application, and non-invasive electrophysical modalities prescribed by the rehabilitation physician for six weeks.
Active Comparator: Conventional exercise protocol

Participants receive conventional physiotherapy alone for six weeks, including shoulder range-of-motion exercises, heat application, and non-invasive electrophysical modalities prescribed by the rehabilitation physician.
Other: Conventional exercise protocol

Participants receive conventional physiotherapy consisting of shoulder range-of-motion exercises, heat application, and non-invasive electrophysical modalities prescribed by the rehabilitation physician for six weeks.

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 in Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI)
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the six-week treatment period.

The Central Sensitization Inventory Part A is a 25-item questionnaire assessing symptoms associated with central sensitization. The total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity. Change from baseline to the end of the six-week treatment period will be evaluated.
Baseline and immediately after the six-week treatment period.

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
Change in Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) Total Score
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the six-week treatment period.

The SPADI is a 13-item questionnaire assessing shoulder pain and disability. The total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater pain and disability. Change from baseline to the end of treatment will be evaluated.
Baseline and immediately after the six-week treatment period.
Change in Shoulder Pain
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the six-week treatment period.

Shoulder pain is assessed using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale, ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
Baseline and immediately after the six-week treatment period.
Change in Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia Score
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the six-week treatment period.

The 17-item Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia assesses fear of movement and reinjury. Total scores range from 17 to 68, with higher scores indicating greater kinesiophobia.
Baseline and immediately after the six-week treatment period.
Change in Pressure Pain Threshold
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the six-week treatment period.

Pressure pain threshold is assessed using a manual algometer at the deltoid, upper trapezius, supraspinatus, and infraspinatus muscles. Pressure is gradually increased until the participant first reports pain. Three measurements are obtained at each site with 30-second rest intervals. Each measurement site is evaluated separately. Higher thresholds indicate lower pressure pain sensitivity.
Baseline and immediately after the six-week treatment period.
Change in Y Balance Test Performance
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the six-week treatment period.

Dynamic balance is assessed using the lower-quarter Y Balance Test in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions. Three trials are performed in each direction. Mean reach distances are normalized to limb length and expressed as percentages. The composite score is calculated as the sum of the three directional mean reach distances divided by three times limb length, multiplied by 100. Higher scores indicate better performance.
Baseline and immediately after the six-week treatment period.
Change in BOBO Balance Scores
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the six-week treatment period.

Static balance is assessed using the BOBO balance board during a 20-second single-leg stance task. Participants maintain an on-screen indicator within a target area. Three trials are performed, and the highest score is recorded. Scores range from 0 to 100%, with higher scores indicating better performance. Dynamic balance is assessed using the BOBO balance board during a 20-second single-leg task. Participants control an on-screen indicator to follow a target moving in a figure-eight pattern. Three trials are performed, and the highest score is recorded. Scores range from 0 to 100%, with higher scores indicating better performance.
Baseline and immediately after the six-week treatment period.
Change in Single-Leg Stance Time
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the six-week treatment period.

Static balance is assessed by measuring the duration of unsupported single-leg stance, up to a maximum of 30 seconds. Longer stance times indicate better balance.
Baseline and immediately after the six-week treatment period.

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.
Istanbul Gedik University

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.
  • Principal Investigator: Amine Ataç, Istanbul Gedik University

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.
June 24, 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.
March 1, 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.
March 1, 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).
October 31, 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.
October 31, 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.
November 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.
November 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.
October 31, 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.
October 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

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.
  • E-10840098-50.04-3813

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

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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