The Effects of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

September 3, 2026 updated by: Erhan Seçer, Manisa Celal Bayar University

The Effects of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation on Shoulder Girdle Function and Quality of Life in Individuals With Scapular Winging

This study aims to investigate the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on shoulder girdle function and quality of life in individuals with scapular winging.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

Scapular stability on the thorax is fundamental for maintaining proper upper extremity function. The loss of this stability manifests clinically as scapular winging, a pathological condition characterized by the prominent protrusion of the medial (vertebral) border and/or the inferior angle of the scapula away from the thorax.

PNF can target the underlying impairment of scapular dysfunction by activating the muscle synergies required for scapulothoracic stability more powerfully and coordinately through resisted diagonal movements.

Therefore, the implementation and testing of PNF protocols are of critical importance, as this method can enhance functional strength and coordination, contributing to better clinical outcomes and improved quality of life in individuals with scapular winging.

Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of PNF on shoulder girdle function and quality of life in individuals with scapular winging.

In this study, designed as a randomized controlled trial, one group will receive PNF in scapular diagonals for approximately 20-30 minutes, three days a week, for a total of five weeks, to ensure scapular positioning and increase the tone of the surrounding muscles.

The control group will receive no intervention during this period.

Before (pre-test) and after (post-test) the study, participants in both groups will be evaluated using the Scapular Isometric Pinch Test for scapular muscle endurance; the Lateral Scapular Slide Test for scapular position; the Rounded Shoulder Posture Assessment for shoulder posture; the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire for upper extremity functional level; and the Short Form-36 for quality of life.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

50

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 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

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Volunteering to participate in the study.
  • Presenting with bilateral scapular winging (Scapular winging will be evaluated by measuring the distance between the inferior angle of the scapula and the thoracic wall using a scapulometer; a distance of ≥2 cm is considered as winging).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of long thoracic nerve palsy.
  • Having undergone shoulder surgery within the last 12 months or having an acute shoulder injury (e.g., rotator cuff tear, dislocation, labral pathology, etc.).
  • Presence of scapulothoracic bursitis, fractures, tumors, or structural deformities in the scapular/thoracic region.
  • Having received regular scapular or shoulder rehabilitation within the last 6 months.

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: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Group
The Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Group will receive proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation for a duration of 5 weeks, scheduled three times per week, with a session length of approximately 20-30 minutes.
The Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Group will receive proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation for a duration of 5 weeks, scheduled three times per week, with a session length of approximately 20-30 minutes.
No Intervention: Control Group
The Control Group will receive no intervention.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Biodex System 3 Pro
Time Frame: one week
Isokinetic strength measurement of the shoulder girdle muscles will be performed using a Biodex System 3 Pro isokinetic dynamometer. The measurements will be conducted in a diagonal plane specifically determined to align with scapular patterns, utilizing a concentric-concentric mode at two different angular velocities: 60°/s and 180°/s. For each test, participants will perform three trial sets; the peak torque values obtained from each set will be normalized to body weight (Nm/kg) and averaged for statistical analysis. During the test protocol, participants will be securely positioned using stabilization straps to ensure arm and trunk stability. Prior to the measurements, a device orientation and warm-up session (e.g., three practice/familiarization sets) will be conducted, followed by the actual data collection.
one week

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Scapular Isometric Pinch Test
Time Frame: one week
The scapular stabilizer muscles' endurance will be evaluated using the Scapular Isometric Pinch Test. During the test, participants will be asked to maintain the scapula in a bilateral retraction position and will be verbally encouraged to sustain the position for as long as they can maintain a maximal isometric contraction. The endurance time will be recorded in seconds.
one week
The Lateral Scapular Slide Test
Time Frame: one week
The Lateral Scapular Slide Test will be used to evaluate scapular dyskinesis. During the test, the participant will be positioned with their back to the researcher. The assessment will be performed bilaterally in three different upper extremity positions: i) 0° of abduction with the arms in a neutral position, (ii) 45° of abduction with the hands placed on the hips and the thumbs pointing posteriorly, and (iii) 90° of abduction with the shoulders parallel to the floor and the arms held in maximum internal rotation. In all three positions, the scapular position will be determined by measuring the distance between the inferior angle of the scapula and the spinous processes of the thoracic vertebrae.
one week
Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire
Time Frame: one week
The functional status of the upper extremity will be evaluated using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaireis a 30-item self-report scale that measures activities of daily living, symptom severity, and social/role functioning related to the upper extremity. Participants rate each item on a scale from 1 (no difficulty/no symptom) to 5 (unable to do/severe symptoms). The total score is transformed into a 0-100 range based on the item averages; higher scores indicate greater functional impairment.
one week
Short Form-36
Time Frame: one week
Quality of life will be evaluated using the Short Form-36. The Short Form-36 assesses eight distinct health domains categorized under two main component summaries: Physical Functioning, Role Limitations due to Physical Problems, Bodily Pain, General Health Perceptions, Vitality, Social Functioning, Role Limitations due to Emotional Problems, and Mental Health. The scale scores range from 0 (worst health status) to 100 (best health status), with higher scores indicating a better quality of life.
one week

Collaborators and Investigators

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

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)

February 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 8, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

March 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 7, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 7, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

January 15, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 4, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 3, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

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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