Effect of TECAR (Transfer of Energy Capacitive and Resistive) Therapy on Chronic Supraspinatus Tendinitis

This study aims to investigate the effect of TECAR therapy on pain, shoulder range of motion, functional disability, and handgrip strength in patients with grade II supraspinatus tendinitis.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Supraspinatus Tendinitis
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Conventional treatment; Device: TECAR (Transfer of Energy Capacitive and Resistive) Therapy

Detailed Description

Tendinopathy occurs when pain arises in a tendon near its origin or insertion due to repetitive activities and reduced functional levels. It happens when the tendon does not properly heal. Thirty percent of tendinopathies related to musculoskeletal conditions are associated with shoulder pain, and supraspinatus tendinitis is the third most prevalent problem.

The supraspinatus tendon, part of the rotator cuff of the shoulder joint, is particularly affected. Aging is also a common factor leading to supraspinatus tendon injuries. The primary function of the supraspinatus muscle is shoulder abduction, particularly during movements that elevate the arm overhead. During these motions, the supraspinatus tendon repeatedly passes beneath the acromion process of the scapula, which can result in impingement and subsequent inflammation. An unexpected force or trauma may cause a partial or complete tendon rupture if this condition progresses.

Transfer of Energy Capacitive and Resistive (TECAR) offers a unique variety of treatments for chronic and acute pathologies, with contraindications such as pregnancy, pacemakers, and sensitivity to high temperatures. It should be noted that this new technology is a valuable tool in treating various pathologies, particularly when compared with other therapies in terms of the presence and/or absence of specific positive effects. TECAR also has distinct characteristics that are effective even when other treatments fail. This therapy balances the therapist's manual skills and the specialized energy that this technology offers, resulting in increasingly satisfactory outcomes for therapists and patients.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 46
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Mohamed Gamal Ibrahem Alghamry, B.Sc; Phone Number: +20 114 448 1731; Email: Mohamed.gamal.2651997@gmail.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Hend Hamdy Mohamed Ahmed, PhD

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Cairo, Egypt
    • CAN Center outpatient clinic
    • Contact: Mohamed Gamal Ibrahem Alghamry, B.Sc; Phone Number: +20 114 448 1731; Email: Mohamed.gamal.2651997@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Supraspinatus Tendinitis grade II based on Neer's classification, confirmed by special tests, signs, and symptoms of grade I and II Supraspinatus Tendinitis for the past month, and taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as suggested by the physician.
• All patients will have a body mass index between 18.5 and 29.9 kg/m².

Exclusion Criteria:

• Other grades of Supraspinatus Tendinitis.
• Any past shoulder surgical interventions.
• Instability of the shoulder joint due to other reasons, Acromioclavicular Joint Arthritis.
• Non-cooperative subjects.
• Diabetes
• Pregnant or lactating women.
• Serious neuromuscular or cardiovascular diseases.
• Systemic illness and severe COVID-19 cases will be excluded from this study.
• Pacemakers
• Heat Sensitivity
• Metal Implants

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
Experimental: Conventional treatment + TECAR therapy; The experimental group will receive conventional physiotherapy sessions as the active comparator group, in addition to TECAR therapy at the end of each session. Sessions will be received for three weeks (nine sessions, three times per week).	Other: Conventional treatment; All patients in both groups will receive conventional treatment, 3 sessions per week for 3 weeks. The conventional methods for treating supraspinatus tendinitis include shoulder swings, painless range of motion (ROM) exercises, shoulder joint active-assisted exercises, resistance exercises to improve muscle strength, and pain-reducing physiotherapy modalities like ultrasound.; Device: TECAR (Transfer of Energy Capacitive and Resistive) Therapy; Patients in the experimental group only will receive TECAR therapy, 3 sessions per week for 3 weeks. The treatment will start with an automatic capacitive energy transfer for 10 minutes. Next, the capacitive plaque will be replaced by the resistive electrode, and the neutral electrode will be fixed
Active Comparator: Conventional treatment; The active comparator group will receive conventional physiotherapy sessions for three weeks (nine sessions, three times per week).	Other: Conventional treatment; All patients in both groups will receive conventional treatment, 3 sessions per week for 3 weeks. The conventional methods for treating supraspinatus tendinitis include shoulder swings, painless range of motion (ROM) exercises, shoulder joint active-assisted exercises, resistance exercises to improve muscle strength, and pain-reducing physiotherapy modalities like ultrasound.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Assessment of Pain Intensity of Shoulder Joint by Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)	The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) will evaluate shoulder pain when using the NRS. Patients will be asked to rate their pain on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 represents "no pain" and 10 represents "the worst pain possible.	3 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Assessment of Shoulder abduction range of motion	A digital goniometer will be used to assess shoulder joint abduction range of motion in patients with chronic supraspinatus tendinitis before and after the treatment sessions. Measurements will be taken with the patient in the supine position. The fulcrum of the goniometer will be centered at the anterior aspect of the acromion process, the stationary arm will be aligned parallel to the midline of the torso, and the moving arm will be aligned with the midline of the humerus, pointing toward the medial epicondyle of the elbow.	3 weeks
Assessment of Shoulder External Rotation range of motion	Shoulder joint external rotation range of motion will also be assessed using a digital goniometer before and after the treatment sessions in patients with chronic supraspinatus tendinitis. The patient will be positioned supine during measurement. The fulcrum of the goniometer will be centered over the olecranon process of the elbow, the stationary arm will be aligned perpendicular to the floor, and the moving arm will be aligned with the ulna, pointing toward the ulnar styloid process.	3 weeks
Assessment of Handgrip strength by handheld dynamometer	A JAMAR hand dynamometer (Sammons Preston Inc, Bolingbrook, IL, USA) will be used to measure grip strength in kilograms. The Jamar is small and portable but relatively heavy at 1.5 lb. The dial reads force in both kilograms and pounds, with markings at intervals of 2 kg or 5 lb, allowing assessment to the nearest 1 kg or 2.5 lb. The reading error is reported to be greater at lower loadings. This method has high test-retest reliability. Also, it has both inter and intra-rater reliability.	3 weeks
Assessment of Functional disability by QuickDASH Scale (Arabic Version)	The QuickDASH includes 30 items, with six items about symptoms (3 about pain, 1 for tingling/numbness, 1 for weakness, 1 for stiffness) and 24 about function (21 about physical function, 3 about social/role function). For each question, the subject rated the performance in the last week on a 5-point scale (1 = no difficulty to perform or no impact; 5 = unable to do or high impact). The raw score is the sum of all answers (maximum score: 150; minimum score: 30). The raw score is transformed into a zero to 100 scale (= total DASH). Zero is no disability and 100 maximum disability.	3 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Cairo University
• Investigators: Study Chair: Hanaa Kenawy Atta, PhD, Assistant Professor, Cairo university; Study Director: Hend Hamdy Mohamed Ahmed, PhD, Lecturer, Cairo university

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): December 30, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 28, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 19, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 19, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): January 5, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 5, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 19, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Therapeutics
• Other Study ID Numbers: P.T.REC/012/005900

Drug and device information, study documents

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