IASTM Effects on Pain, Functionality, and Proprioception in Subacromial Impingement

March 24, 2026 updated by: burak menek, Istanbul Medipol University Hospital

**Effect of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization on Pain, Functionality, and Proprioception in Individuals With Subacromial Impingement Syndrome**

The aim of this study will be to investigate the effects of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM), applied in addition to a conventional exercise program, on pain, range of motion, proprioception, functionality, and quality of life in individuals with Subacromial Impingement Syndrome (SIS).

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The aim of this study will be to investigate the effects of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM), applied in addition to a conventional exercise program, on pain, range of motion, proprioception, functionality, and quality of life in individuals with Subacromial Impingement Syndrome (SIS).

A total of 38 participants will be included in the study and will be randomly assigned to either the Conventional Exercise Group or the IASTM Group. Both groups will receive treatment for 4 weeks, three sessions per week, for a total of 12 sessions.

Before the intervention, both groups will be assessed for pain (VAS), range of motion (goniometer), joint position sense (goniometer), functionality (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand - DASH), and quality of life (Rotator Cuff Quality of Life - RC-QoL).

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

38

Phase

  • 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 Backup

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals diagnosed with SIS by MRI
  • Men and women between 40 and 60 years of age
  • Individuals with symptoms persisting for at least one month
  • Individuals with a minimum of 60° of shoulder flexion and abduction range of motion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals with a history of surgery on the affected arm
  • Individuals with an open wound on the arm
  • Individuals with an active infection
  • Individuals with inflammatory joint disease
  • Individuals with malignant or benign tumors were excluded from the study.

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
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Conventional exercise group
Conventional exercises will be applied.
Other: Conventional exercise group
All participants will receive a standardized electrotherapy program in a clinical setting, consisting of TENS (100 Hz, 30 minutes), ultrasound (1.5 W/cm², 8 minutes), and a 15-minute cold-pack application, delivered three times per week for four weeks. In addition to electrotherapy, participants in the conventional exercise group will perform a physiotherapist-guided exercise program aimed at improving shoulder flexion, abduction, internal and external rotation through stretching and range-of-motion exercises. The program will include Codman exercises, wand exercises, finger-ladder activities, and condition-appropriate strengthening exercises, progressed according to each participant's pain level and tolerance.
Experimental: IASTM group
In addition to the conventional exercises, Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) will be applied.
Other: Conventional exercise group
All participants will receive a standardized electrotherapy program in a clinical setting, consisting of TENS (100 Hz, 30 minutes), ultrasound (1.5 W/cm², 8 minutes), and a 15-minute cold-pack application, delivered three times per week for four weeks. In addition to electrotherapy, participants in the conventional exercise group will perform a physiotherapist-guided exercise program aimed at improving shoulder flexion, abduction, internal and external rotation through stretching and range-of-motion exercises. The program will include Codman exercises, wand exercises, finger-ladder activities, and condition-appropriate strengthening exercises, progressed according to each participant's pain level and tolerance.
Other: IASTM group

Participants in the IASTM group will receive Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization in addition to the conventional treatment program, three days per week for four weeks, for a total of 12 sessions. The IASTM technique will be applied to the subscapularis, anterior deltoid, biceps brachii, upper trapezius, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres major, teres minor, and posterior deltoid muscles.

For each muscle group, the treatment will be administered for 20 seconds in a parallel direction and 20 seconds in a perpendicular direction, using sweep and brush techniques at an angle of approximately 45 degrees.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Visual Analog Scale
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is a tool used to measure pain intensity as a single-dimensional construct across different adult populations. It typically consists of a horizontal or vertical line measuring 10 cm in length. On this scale, a score of 0 indicates no pain, while a score of 10 represents the worst pain imaginable.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Range of motion
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Shoulder flexion, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation range of motion will be assessed using a universal goniometer while the patient is positioned in supine and performs the movements actively.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH)
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire is a scale that evaluates functional status and capability following injuries or disorders affecting the upper extremity. The DASH consists of 30 items. These items assess difficulties encountered during specific tasks, as well as pain, numbness, stiffness, weakness, sleep problems, self-confidence, and participation in social activities. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater impairment in upper extremity function.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Joint position sense
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
To evaluate shoulder proprioception, joint position sense will be measured at 60° of shoulder flexion and 60° of shoulder abduction. During the assessment, participants will be positioned in standing and guided to the target angles by the physiotherapist using a goniometer. In each position, participants will be asked to maintain 60° of flexion or 60° of abduction for 10 seconds with their eyes open and to memorize the perceived position. They will then be instructed to reproduce the same movement with their eyes closed. The difference between the angle measured with eyes open and the angle reproduced with eyes closed will be recorded as the joint position sense error (error angle).
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Rotator cuff quality of life Index
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Quality of life in individuals with shoulder pathology was evaluated using the Rotator Cuff Quality of Life (RC-QoL) questionnaire. The RC-QoL consists of 34 items and five subscales. Results are interpreted in a positive direction; as the RC-QoL score increases, the individual's shoulder-related quality of life is considered to have improved, and symptoms are regarded as reduced.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Istanbul Medipol University Hospital

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Burak Menek, PhD, Medipol University

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)

January 25, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 10, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

May 20, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 1, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 7, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

December 19, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 24, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • E-10840098-202.3.02-6969

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

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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