The Effect of Thoracic Mobilization in Individuals With Subacromial Pain Syndrome

The Effect of Thoracic Mobilization on Pain Intensity, Muscle Tone, Functional and Muscle Activity Level in Individuals With Subacromial Pain Syndrome

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of six-week thoracic mobilization on pain intensity, muscle tone, functional and muscle activation in individuals with subacromial pain syndrome.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Subacromial Pain Syndrome
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Exercise Group; Other: Thoracic Mobilization Group

Detailed Description

Subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS) is the most common shoulder problem and accounts for 44%-65% of all shoulder problems. Repetitive compression of the rotator cuff tendons as they pass through the subacromial space affects shoulder function along with pain.

Studies have shown that scapular kinematics are affected in individuals with subacromial pain syndrome. In addition to increased scapular internal rotation, scapular upward rotation and posterior tilt during elevation are decreased in these individuals. These kinematic changes have been associated with decreased activation of the middle and lower trapezius and serratus anterior muscles and excessive upper trapezius activation. This change in scapular kinematics causes narrowing of the subacromial space and repeated traumatization of the rotator cuff muscles passing through it. In addition, kyphotic posture in the thoracic region (insufficient extension of the thoracic vertebrae) negatively affects scapular kinematics. Kyphotic posture has been shown to be associated with subacromial pain syndrome by causing anterior tilt, downward rotation and protraction in the scapula.

Exercise and mobilization applications are frequently applied in subacromial pain syndrome. Strengthening the muscles around the shoulder and scapula, increasing glenohumeral and scapulothoracic joint mobility, and stretching the posterior capsule are frequently applied to reduce pain and increase function. Studies on increasing thoracic mobilization are limited in number. In these studies, the acute effects of thoracic manipulation applications on pain, normal joint motion and functional activity level were examined in individuals with subacromial pain syndrome. There is only one pilot study that examined the effect of mobilization applied to the thoracic region. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of six-week thoracic mobilization on pain intensity, muscle tone, functional and muscle activation in individuals with subacromial pain syndrome.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 32
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Ankara, Turkey, 06100
    • Hacettepe University, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Thoracic kyphosis angle > 40°
• Full active shoulder abduction

Exclusion Criteria:

• Bilateral shoulder pain
• Rotator cuff tear
• Shoulder/cervical injury other than SAPS
• Surgery history

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Exercise Group; The exercise group will perform stretching and strengthening exercises involving the muscle groups around the shoulder and scapula for 12 weeks.	Other: Exercise Group; The exercises will be given as a home program and each exercise will be performed 2 times a day for a total of 12 weeks. Participants will perform the exercises 1 day a week under the supervision of a physiotherapist. The exercise program lasts approximately 30 minutes.
Active Comparator: Thoracic Mobilization Group; The exercise group will perform stretching and strengthening exercises involving the muscle groups around the shoulder and scapula for 12 weeks. In addition to the exercises, thoracic mobilization will be applied to the participants in this group 1 day a week for a total of 6 weeks.	Other: Exercise Group; The exercises will be given as a home program and each exercise will be performed 2 times a day for a total of 12 weeks. Participants will perform the exercises 1 day a week under the supervision of a physiotherapist. The exercise program lasts approximately 30 minutes.; Other: Thoracic Mobilization Group; The exercises will be given as a home program and each exercise will be performed 2 times a day for a total of 12 weeks. Participants will perform the exercises 1 day a week under the supervision of a physiotherapist. The exercise program lasts approximately 30 minutes. Thoracic mobilization will be applied to segments where passive accessory movement is insufficient or painful. 30 repetitions/4 sets will be applied to each determined segment. Thoracic mobilization will be performed with the patient lying prone position.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Electromyography (EMG)	A surface EMG system with 8 channels will use to measure muscle activation levels. A synchronized video record will take at 50 frames per second to identify 3 phases of the exercises ascending phase of the abduction (from 0°-60°, 60°-120°, and 120°-180°). Measurements will make from the affected side. The same examiner will place bipolar Ag-Cl surface electrodes over the Upper Trapezius (UT), Middle Trapezius (MT), Lower Trapezius (LT), Infraspinatus (IS), Middle Deltoid (MD), and Serratus Anterior (SA) muscles of all participants. Investigators will measure maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) of the UT, MT, LT, IS, MD, and SA muscles in randomized order first. The width of the wooden blocks will adjust according to the arm distance of the patients. Shoulder abduction angles of 60° and 120° will mark with tape on the wooden blocks.	twelve weeks
Acromiohumeral Distance (AHD)	Real-time ultrasonography (US) images of the subacromial space will obtain with a 4 to 13 Megahertz linear transducer. All US images will evaluate by the same researcher with 5 years of experience in US imaging of the shoulder. US images will obtain from the affected side shoulder. The AHD will measure linearly (as a millimetres) between the highest point of the humeral head and the lowest point of the acromion using the on-screen calibrations of the US system. Measurements will do at 0°, 60° and 90° abduction of the shoulder.	twelve weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Muscle Tone	The participant's upper trapezius muscle tone will assess. Measurements will make by placing the tip of the muscle tone assessment device vertically at the midpoint of the individuals' upper trapezius muscle. The resulting changes in muscle tone and stiffness will record as results.	twelve weeks
Functional Activity Level	American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) will use to determine functional activity level. ASES is frequently use in the evaluation of shoulder functions in rotator cuff injuries. Participants can score between 0-100 points in the ASES assessment. A high score on the ASES assessment indicates high activity level and low disability level.The Turkish version of the questionnaire will use in our study.	twelve weeks
Pain Intensity	A pain intensity will evaluate with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Participants will ask to mark the intensity of pain participants feel during rest and night pain and daily life activity on a 0-10 cm straight line. The length between the point will mark by the patient and the starting point on the line will measure with a ruler and the pain intensity will record in cm.	twelve weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hacettepe University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: MAHMUT ÇALIK, PhD Student, Hacettepe University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 10, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 5, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): July 5, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 11, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 16, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): April 18, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 26, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 25, 2024
• Last Verified: July 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Rehabilitation; Pain; Electromyography; Acromiohumeral Distance
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Pathologic Processes; Disease; Syndrome; Somatoform Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: HU-FTR-MC-01

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No