Effects of Rotator Cuff Drills Versus Progressive Resistance Exercises on Chronic Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy

July 21, 2026 updated by: Riphah International University

Effects of Rotator Cuff Drills Versus Progressive Resistance Exercises on Pain, Stability and Functional Performance Among Overhead Athletes With Chronic Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy

A single-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted with 30 male overhead athletes (17-35 years) recruited from cricket clubs and sports complexes in Faisalabad. Participants were randomized into Group A (rotator cuff drills: plyometric medicine ball throws, wall dribbles) or Group B (PREs: resistance band exercises with progressive loading). Both groups underwent 12-week interventions (3 sessions/week) following the FIIT principle (Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type), preceded by a standardized 20-minute warm-up. Outcomes were assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST), and Upper Limb Rotation Test (ULRT) at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Data were analyzed using SPSS v24, with statistical significance set at *p* ≤ 0.05. Descriptive statistics (mean, SD) summarized continuous variables, while frequencies/percentages described categorical data. Normality was confirmed via Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Between-group differences were analyzed using independent *t*-tests, and within-group changes via paired *t*-tests. The study's rigorous blinding and standardized protocols minimized bias, ensuring robust comparisons between interventions.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Rotator cuff tendinopathy is a prevalent condition among overhead athletes, significantly impairing performance and function. While both rotator cuff drills and progressive resistance exercises (PREs) are commonly used in rehabilitation, there remains a lack of comparative evidence on their effectiveness, particularly in sport-specific contexts.

Current literature highlights gaps in optimal exercise progression, long-term outcomes, and objective performance metrics for overhead athletes. This study aims to compare these two interventions to determine which approach better improves pain, stability, and functional performance in athletes with chronic rotator cuff tendinopathy, addressing a critical need for evidence-based rehabilitation protocols in sports medicine. A single-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted with 30 male overhead athletes (17-35 years) recruited from cricket clubs and sports complexes in Faisalabad. Participants were randomized into Group A (rotator cuff drills: plyometric medicine ball throws, wall dribbles) or Group B (PREs: resistance band exercises with progressive loading). Both groups underwent 12-week interventions (3 sessions/week) following the FIIT principle (Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type), preceded by a standardized 20-minute warm-up. Outcomes were assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST), and Upper Limb Rotation Test (ULRT) at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Data were analyzed using SPSS v24, with statistical significance set at *p* ≤ 0.05. Descriptive statistics (mean, SD) summarized continuous variables, while frequencies/percentages described categorical data. Normality was confirmed via Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Between-group differences were analyzed using independent *t*-tests, and within-group changes via paired *t*-tests. The study's rigorous blinding and standardized protocols minimized bias, ensuring robust comparisons between interventions.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

30

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 Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Punjab Province
      • Faisalābad, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 38000
        • Recruiting
        • Jawad club, Alfatah sports complex
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Amna Shahid, T-DPT
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Husnain mehmood, dpt

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

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria

  • Professional male overhead athletes aged 17-35 years
  • Male overhead athletes playing competitive sports like volleyball, tennis, baseball, cricket, swimming, badminton, and basketball for at least 6 hours a week. Painful arc of movement during flexion or abduction.
  • Positive Neer's or Kennedy-Hawkins test

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Had a previous shoulder surgery.
  • Trauma history. Corticosteroid injection within the previous 6 weeks
  • Other injuries rather than Rotator cuff tendinopathy

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
Experimental: Rotator Cuff Drills
Rotator cuff Drills
Other: Rotator cuff Drills
(rotator cuff drills: plyometric medicine ball throws, wall dribbles)
Experimental: Progressive Resistance exercises
Progressive resistance exercises
Other: Progressive resistance exercises
PREs: resistance band exercises with progressive loading). Both groups underwent 12-week interventions (3 sessions/week) following the FIIT principle (Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type), preceded by a standardized 20-minute warm-up.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain through NPRS
Time Frame: Pre and 6 week post interventional
pain is measure through NPRS
Pre and 6 week post interventional
stability through CKCUEST
Time Frame: Pre and 6 week post interventional
measured through CKCUEST
Pre and 6 week post interventional
functional performance through ULRT
Time Frame: Pre and 6 week post interventional
measure through ULRT
Pre and 6 week post interventional

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Riphah International University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Husnain Mahmood, DPT, Study Principal Investigator

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)

October 15, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 15, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 21, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 21, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 24, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 21, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • REC/RCR & AHS/25/0421

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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