Effects of a Pectoralis Minor Muscle Stretching Protocol (PMISP)

Phase 4 Effects of a Stretching Protocol for the Pectoralis Minor Muscle on This Resting Length and on the 3D Kinematics of the Scapula During Arm Flexion in Asymptomatic Subjects and Patients With Impingement Syndrome

The purpose of this study is to verify the effects of a stretching protocol for the pectoralis minor muscle on its resting length and on the 3D kinematics of the scapula during arm flexion in asymptomatic subjects and patients with impingement syndrome with shortened pectoralis minor.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Shoulder Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Stretching-Asymptomatic subjects; Procedure: Stretching-Subjects with shoulder pain

Detailed Description

Fifty subjects (25 symptomatic and 25 asymptomatic for shoulder pain) will be recruited. All of them will be initially assessed twice with one week between the assessments. On each day, they will complete two questionnaires (DASH and SPADI) to assess pain and shoulder function. The resting length of the pectoralis minor muscle and scapular kinematics data during arm flexion will also be measured using an electromagnetic tracking system. Initially, the resting length of the pectoralis minor will be measured, and then 3 repetitions of arm elevation in the sagittal plane will be completed. The stretching protocol will be performed daily for 6 weeks. The stretching will be performed with the subject standing, with 90° of arm abduction and 90° of elbow flexion and palm on a flat planar surface. The subject then will place the leg opposite to the flat surface in front of the other with slight knee flexion and tilt the trunk forward like a rigid block and rotate it slightly increasing the horizontal abduction at the shoulder. This procedure will be done 4 times for 1 min and 30s interval between repetitions. After the 6 weeks, the subject will have the same variables from the initial assessments reassessed. For the questionnaires and length of pectoralis minor a two-way ANOVA for repeated measures will be used to check the main effects of group and evaluation and whether there is interaction between them. For scapular internal/external rotation, upward/downward rotation, and tilt anterior/posterior a three-way ANOVA for repeated measures will use to analyze the main effects of group (symptomatic and asymptomatic), elevation angle of the arm (30°, 60°, 90° and 120°) and evaluation (1, 2 and 3) and whether there is evaluation x group x angle interaction. A p value less than 0.05 will be considered significant.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 97
• Phase: Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Brazil
  • São Paulo
    • São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil, 13565-905
      • Ufscar

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 45 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Asymptomatic subjects were included if they did not have any positive test for SIS.

The subjects with shoulder pain were included if:

1. they had history of shoulder, at least one week;
2. 18 - 45 years;
3. range of motion > 150° evaluated with digital inclinometer;
4. one or more impingement tests positive - Neer (Neer, 1972), Hawkins (Hawkins and Kennedy, 1980) and Jobe (Jobe and Moynes, 1982) - associated with painful arc during arm elevation, or during external rotation with 90° of arm elevation;
5. Individuals from both groups also had to present with shortened PM muscle length.

Exclusion Criteria:

Individuals from both groups were excluded if they:

1. BMI (body mass index) > 28kg/m2;
2. irradiated shoulder pain;
3. scoliosis;
4. history of shoulder pain with beginning traumatic;
5. history of fracture or surgery in upper limb and rotator cuff;
6. systemic illnesses;
7. tape allergy;
8. were pregnant;
9. physiotherapy at least 6 months.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Stretching-Asymptomatic subjects; The stretching will be performed with the subject standing, with 90° of arm abduction and 90° of elbow flexion and palm on a flat planar surface. The subject then will place the leg opposite to the flat surface in front of the other with slight knee flexion and tilt the trunk forward like a rigid block and rotate it slightly increasing the horizontal abduction at the shoulder. This procedure will be done 4 times for 1 min and 30s interval between repetitions.	Procedure: Stretching-Asymptomatic subjects; The stretching will be performed with the subject standing, with 90° of arm abduction and 90° of elbow flexion and palm on a flat planar surface. The subject then will place the leg opposite to the flat surface in front of the other with slight knee flexion and tilt the trunk forward like a rigid block and rotate it slightly increasing the horizontal abduction at the shoulder. This procedure will be done 4 times for 1 min and 30s interval between repetitions.
Experimental: Stretching-Subjects with shoulder pain; The stretching will be performed with the subject standing, with 90° of arm abduction and 90° of elbow flexion and palm on a flat planar surface. The subject then will place the leg opposite to the flat surface in front of the other with slight knee flexion and tilt the trunk forward like a rigid block and rotate it slightly increasing the horizontal abduction at the shoulder. This procedure will be done 4 times for 1 min and 30s interval between repetitions.	Procedure: Stretching-Subjects with shoulder pain; The stretching will be performed with the subject standing, with 90° of arm abduction and 90° of elbow flexion and palm on a flat planar surface. The subject then will place the leg opposite to the flat surface in front of the other with slight knee flexion and tilt the trunk forward like a rigid block and rotate it slightly increasing the horizontal abduction at the shoulder. This procedure will be done 4 times for 1 min and 30s interval between repetitions.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pectoralis Minor Length After Pectoralis Minor Stretching Protocol	The change of the pectoralis minor muscle will be evaluated with a tape measure and electromagnetic device. The length of the muscle will be recorded in centimeters.	6 weeks after stretching

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Scapular Kinematics After Pectoralis Minor Stretching Protocol	The scapular kinematics will be evaluated with electromagnetic device. The changes in the scapular kinematics will be described in degrees.	6 weeks of stretching

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos
• Collaborators: Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Dayana Rosa, PT, UNIMEP

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: June 1, 2013
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 1, 2013
• Study Completion (Actual): January 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 21, 2013
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 4, 2013
• First Posted (Estimate): October 8, 2013

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): May 19, 2015
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 17, 2015
• Last Verified: May 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: shoulder; stretching; scapular kinematics; pectoralis minor
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Arthralgia; Shoulder Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: 100/12