Effects of Upper Limb PRT With CSE on Pain, Core Strength and ULB in Cricket Fast Bowlers With Shoulder Injury

Effects of Upper Limb Progressive Resistance Training Along With Core Stability Exercises on Pain, Core Strength and Upper Limb Balance in Cricket Fast Bowlers With Shoulder Injury

Musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction, particularly in the upper limb and spine, are often linked to poor core stability and muscular imbalance. While progressive resistance training is a well-established approach to improve muscular strength, incorporating core stability exercises may provide additional benefits in terms of balance, posture, and neuromuscular control. However, limited studies have examined the combined effects of resistance and core stability training on upper limb strength, core endurance, pain reduction, and balance performance.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Shoulder Injuries
• Intervention / Treatment: Combination product: Progressive Resistance Training + Core Stability Exercises; Combination product: Progressive Resistance Training

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 44
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Lahore, Pakistan
    • Lahore City

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male cricket fast bowlers aged between 18 and 35 years.
• Diagnosed with shoulder injury (e.g., rotator cuff strain, impingement syndrome) confirmed by clinical assessment.
• History of shoulder pain for at least 4 weeks but not more than 6 months.
• Currently active in training or playing at club, district, or national level.(25)

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of shoulder surgery or dislocation within the past 1 year.
• Presence of neurological disorders or systemic conditions affecting shoulder function.
• Current participation in any other shoulder rehabilitation or strength training program.
• Structural deformities or congenital abnormalities of the upper limb.(26)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Progressive Resistance Training	Combination product: Progressive Resistance Training; will perform only the upper limb progressive resistance training protocol as outlined below. This regimen focuses on strengthening the shoulder complex, upper back, and arm muscles to improve muscular performance, endurance, and control. Progressive Resistance Training
Experimental: Progressive Resistance Training + Core Stability Exercises	Combination product: Progressive Resistance Training + Core Stability Exercises; Participants in Group A will engage in a combined program focusing on upper limb strengthening and trunk stabilization. The core stability component aims to improve neuromuscular control and trunk endurance, while the resistance training targets upper limb muscle strength and shoulder stability. Core Stability Exercises: Exercise Description Duration/Repetitions Planks Holding a straight-body position on elbows and toes. 30-60 seconds Bird-Dog Extending one arm and opposite leg, maintaining neutral spine. 5-10 sec/rep, 10-12 reps per side Dead Bug Supine position, extending opposite arm and leg. 3-5 sec/rep, 12-15 reps Bridging Lifting hips off ground, maintaining spinal alignment. 10-15 sec/rep, 12-15 reps Swiss Ball Stability Balance in sitting or leg lift positions using a Swiss ball. 20-30 sec/position, 10-12 reps Progression in core exercises will occur by increasing repetitions, duration, or complexity based on individual capability.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for Pain	The Visual Analog Scale is a simple and validated tool widely used for the assessment of subjective pain intensity. It consists of a 10-centimeter horizontal line, with the endpoints defining the extremes of pain-'no pain' on the left end (0) and 'worst imaginable pain' on the right end . Participants mark a point on the line that corresponds to their perceived pain intensity. The distance in centimeters from the "no pain" end to the mark is measured to quantify pain. The VAS is sensitive to changes in pain and has high reliability and validity in both clinical and sports injury populations	12 Months
Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI)	The Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) is a self-administered questionnaire used to assess pain and functional disability in individuals with shoulder pathology. It consists of 13 items divided into two subscales: pain (5 items) and disability (8 items), each rated on a scale from 0 (no pain/difficulty) to 10 (worst pain/inability). SPADI has demonstrated excellent validity, with strong correlations to other functional assessment tools, and reliability, with high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.86-0.95) and test-retest reliability (ICC 0.89-0.93). Its responsiveness to clinical change makes it a valuable tool for both research and rehabilitation monitoring	12 Months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Superior University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 17, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 28, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 28, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 28, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): July 9, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 9, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 28, 2025
• Last Verified: June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Shoulder Injuries; Wounds and Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: MSRSW/Batch-Fall23/828

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

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