Effects of ShoulderSphere Exercises in Young Adults

Effects of ShoulderSphere Exercises on Shoulder Stabilization, Strength, Proprioception, and Endurance in Young Adults

This study evaluated the effects of ShoulderSphere exercises on shoulder stability, muscle strength, proprioception, endurance, and functional performance in young adults.

ShoulderSphere is an exercise device that provides dynamic and multi-directional resistance during shoulder movements. The study compared an 8-week ShoulderSphere-based exercise program with a conventional shoulder stabilization exercise program based on selected Thrower's Ten exercises.

Young adults without current shoulder symptoms were included in the study. Participants were assigned to one of two exercise groups. Shoulder stability, functional upper-extremity performance, shoulder proprioception, and isokinetic muscle strength and endurance were assessed before and after the 8-week intervention.

The aim of the study was to determine whether ShoulderSphere exercises produced different effects compared with conventional shoulder stabilization exercises in young adults.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Exercise Therapy; Shoulder Proprioception; Shoulder Stability; Shoulder Muscle Strength
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: ShoulderSphere-Based Exercise Program; Behavioral: Conventional Shoulder Stabilization Exercise Program

Detailed Description

This study was designed as a controlled pretest-posttest intervention study in young adults. The purpose was to compare the effects of an 8-week ShoulderSphere-based exercise program with a conventional shoulder stabilization exercise program based on selected Thrower's Ten exercises.

Participants were young adults between 18 and 40 years of age who did not have current shoulder pain or clinical shoulder symptoms. Participants were assigned to either the ShoulderSphere exercise group or the conventional exercise group.

The ShoulderSphere group performed exercises using the ShoulderSphere device, which provides dynamic resistance and requires continuous control of shoulder movement. The conventional exercise group performed selected shoulder stabilization exercises based on the Thrower's Ten program. Both interventions were applied for 8 weeks.

Outcome assessments were performed before and after the intervention period. Shoulder stability was assessed using the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test. Functional upper-extremity performance was assessed using the seated single-arm medicine ball throw test. Shoulder proprioception was assessed using an active joint position sense test. Isokinetic shoulder muscle strength and endurance were assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer.

The main purpose of the study was to examine whether ShoulderSphere exercises had different effects from conventional shoulder stabilization exercises on shoulder stability, strength, proprioception, endurance, and functional performance in young adults.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 34
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye), 06540
    • Gazi University Graduate School of Health Sciences

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being between 18 and 40 years of age
• Having no current shoulder pain or clinical shoulder symptoms
• Meeting the study screening criterion for shoulder stability based on the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test
• Volunteering to participate in the study
• Providing written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having current shoulder pain or any clinical shoulder symptoms
• Having a history of shoulder surgery
• Having a history of shoulder dislocation, subluxation, or significant shoulder trauma
• Having any neurological, rheumatological, or systemic condition that could affect upper-extremity function
• Having an acute musculoskeletal injury affecting the shoulder, neck, back, or upper extremity
• Having any condition that would prevent safe participation in the exercise program or outcome assessments
• Unable to complete the intervention or assessment procedures

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: ShoulderSphere Exercise Group; Participants in this arm performed an 8-week ShoulderSphere-based shoulder exercise program. The exercises were performed using the ShoulderSphere device and aimed to improve shoulder stability, proprioception, muscle strength, endurance, and functional upper-extremity performance.	Behavioral: ShoulderSphere-Based Exercise Program; Participants performed an 8-week shoulder exercise program using the ShoulderSphere device. The program aimed to improve shoulder stability, proprioception, muscle strength, endurance, and functional upper-extremity performance through dynamic and multi-directional shoulder control exercises.
Active Comparator: Conventional Shoulder Stabilization Exercise Group; Participants in this arm performed an 8-week conventional shoulder stabilization exercise program based on selected Thrower's Ten exercises. The exercises aimed to improve shoulder stability, proprioception, muscle strength, endurance, and functional upper-extremity performance.	Behavioral: Conventional Shoulder Stabilization Exercise Program; Participants performed an 8-week conventional shoulder stabilization exercise program based on selected Thrower's Ten exercises. The program aimed to improve shoulder stability, proprioception, muscle strength, endurance, and functional upper-extremity performance.; Other Names: Thrower's Ten-Based Exercises

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in shoulder stability from baseline to 8 weeks	Shoulder stability was assessed using the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test. The number of touches completed during the test was recorded before and after the 8-week intervention period.	Baseline and 8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in functional upper-extremity performance from baseline to 8 weeks	Functional upper-extremity performance was assessed using the seated single-arm medicine ball throw test. The throwing distance was recorded before and after the 8-week intervention period.	Baseline and 8 weeks
Change in shoulder proprioception from baseline to 8 weeks	Shoulder proprioception was assessed using an active joint position sense test for internal and external rotation. Absolute error values were recorded before and after the 8-week intervention period.	Baseline and 8 weeks
Change in isokinetic shoulder muscle strength from baseline to 8 weeks	Isokinetic shoulder muscle strength was assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer during internal and external rotation. Measurements were performed before and after the 8-week intervention period.	Baseline and 8 weeks
Change in isokinetic shoulder muscle endurance from baseline to 8 weeks	Isokinetic shoulder muscle endurance was assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer during repeated shoulder internal and external rotation movements. Measurements were performed before and after the 8-week intervention period.	Baseline and 8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Gazi University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 12, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 25, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): July 25, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 4, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 4, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 11, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 11, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 4, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Young adults; Functional performance; Isokinetic strength; Thrower's Ten; Shoulder proprioception; Shoulder stability; Shoulder exercise; ShoulderSphere; Closed kinetic chain upper extremity stability test
• Other Study ID Numbers: GAZI-2022-933-SS

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