Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Home-Based Exercise for Partial-Thickness Supraspinatus Tears

Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Home-Based Exercise in Patients With Partial-Thickness Supraspinatus Tears: A Prospective Controlled Study

This study evaluates the clinical effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections compared with a home-based exercise program in patients with partial-thickness tears of the supraspinatus tendon. Partial supraspinatus tears are a common cause of chronic shoulder pain and functional limitation. PRP has been proposed as a biological treatment that may promote tissue healing, while therapeutic exercise remains a standard conservative intervention.

This prospective, controlled study includes two parallel groups. The PRP group receives three monthly ultrasound-guided intratendinous PRP injections, preceded by local anesthesia. The control group follows a structured home-based exercise program for the same overall treatment period. All participants are assessed at baseline and again two months after completing their assigned intervention.

The primary outcome is shoulder pain measured with a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes include shoulder range of motion (flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal and external rotation) and functional disability measured with the Constant-Murley Score. The study also analyzes whether patient characteristics such as age or sex are associated with clinical improvement.

The aim of this research is to compare two commonly used conservative treatment strategies and provide evidence to guide clinical decision-making for patients with partial-thickness supraspinatus tears.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Rotator Cuff Injuries; Shoulder Pain; Shoulder Joint
• Intervention / Treatment: Biological: Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP); Other: Home Exercise Program

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Badajoz
    • Badajoz, Badajoz, Spain, 06006
      • University of Extremadura

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 20 and 70 years.

Shoulder pain for more than 6 months with a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score > 4.

Partial-thickness tear of the supraspinatus tendon confirmed by ultrasound.

No improvement in VAS after conservative treatment with NSAIDs and/or physical therapy during the previous 6 months.

Willingness to undergo blood extraction and PRP infiltrations as required by the protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age < 20 or > 70 years.

Full-thickness tear of the supraspinatus tendon.

Active infection (osteomyelitis, septic arthritis).

Current treatment with NSAIDs, antiplatelet agents, or systemic immunosuppressants.

Severe thrombocytopenia.

Positive serology (syphilis, HIV, HBV, HCV).

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: PRP Injection; Participants receive three monthly ultrasound-guided intratendinous injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the affected supraspinatus tendon, preceded by local anesthetic infiltration in the subacromial bursa.	Biological: Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP); Ultrasound-guided intratendinous injection of 4 mL PRP prepared from autologous blood using the BS PRP SYSTEM-20 kit. A total of three injections are administered at one-month intervals. Local anesthesia with 5 mL mepivacaine 2% is applied subacromially prior to PRP administration.
Active Comparator: Home-Based Exercise Program; Active Comparator	Other: Home Exercise Program; A supervised-prescribed home-based shoulder exercise program including mobility, strengthening, and scapular stabilization exercises. The program is performed regularly over approximately three months, with progression based on clinical guidelines for rotator cuff rehabilitation.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Shoulder Pain (VAS)	Pain intensity measured using a 0-10 Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Higher scores indicate greater pain.	Baseline and 2 months after completing the intervention.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Shoulder Range of Motion (Flexion, Extension, Abduction, Adduction, Internal and External Rotation)	Active shoulder range of motion measured using standard goniometry in degrees.	Baseline and 2 months after completing the intervention.
Constant-Murley Score	Composite functional score assessing pain, daily activities, range of motion, and strength. Total score ranges from 0 to 100; higher scores indicate better shoulder function.	Baseline and 2 months post-intervention.
Roles and Maudsley Score	Four-point scale evaluating patient-perceived outcome (1 = excellent, 4 = poor).	Baseline and 2 months post-intervention.
QuickDASH Score	Disability and symptoms of the upper limb measured with the QuickDASH questionnaire (0-100 scale). Higher scores indicate greater disability.	Baseline and 2 months post-intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidad de Extremadura
• Investigators: Study Director: Luis Espejo-Antúnez, Ph.D., University of Extremadura

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): July 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 17, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 17, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): November 24, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 24, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 17, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Shoulder Injuries; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Wounds and Injuries; Joint Diseases; Rupture; Tendon Injuries; Arthralgia; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Rotator Cuff Injuries; Shoulder Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: 10

Drug and device information, study documents

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