The Effect of TECAR Therapy on Pain and Shoulder Function in Patients With Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy

Shoulder pain is one of the most common symptoms of musculoskeletal injuries; one-quarter of the general population and two-thirds of adults experience this problem at some point in their lives.Rotator cuff tendinopathy also presents as a significant socio-economic issue, affecting patients' functionality, sleep, quality of life, and work performance.

TECAR therapy (Targeted Radiofrequency Therapy) is a relatively new physical therapy method. This technique aims to induce hyperthermia in deep tissues by transferring high-frequency electromagnetic energy via capacitive-resistive electric transfer (CRET). This study aims to directly compare TECAR-a relatively new treatment modality-with exercise, which is crucial in shoulder rehabilitation, by evaluating the effects of both treatments on pain reduction, shoulder function, and quality of life in patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Physical Therapy; Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy; TECAR Therapy
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: tecar therapy; Other: physical therapy

Detailed Description

Shoulder pain is one of the most common symptoms of musculoskeletal injuries; one-quarter of the general population and two-thirds of adults experience this problem at some point in their lives. Its prevalence is estimated to be between 15% and 30% of the population. The most common cause of shoulder pain is rotator cuff (RC) tendinopathy. This structure surrounds the shoulder and comprises the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and teres minor muscles, as well as the long head of the biceps brachii-though some authors exclude the biceps brachii. Rotator cuff tendinopathy is a prevalent health issue characterized by chronic degeneration resulting from repetitive stress on the shoulder. This degeneration can lead to a range of clinical presentations, varying from simple tendinosis to partial- or full-thickness rotator cuff tears. Multiple factors-such as excessive tensile loading, primary and secondary subacromial impingement, and deficiencies in repair mechanisms-play a role in the development of rotator cuff tendinopathy. Rotator cuff tendinopathy also presents as a significant socio-economic issue, affecting patients' functionality, sleep, quality of life, and work performance.

TECAR therapy (Targeted Radiofrequency Therapy) is a relatively new physical therapy method. This technique aims to induce hyperthermia in deep tissues by transferring high-frequency electromagnetic energy via capacitive-resistive electric transfer (CRET). It has beneficial effects, particularly in musculoskeletal conditions, by reducing pain and improving functional status. Its efficacy has been investigated-and improvements reported-in conditions such as lower back pain, knee pain, Achilles tendon pathologies, rotator cuff tendon pathologies, pelvic floor disorders, lymphedema, and visceral pathologies like chronic constipation.

There are few studies in the literature regarding the efficacy of TECAR therapy in patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy, and no studies comparing it with exercise have been found. This study aims to directly compare TECAR-a relatively new treatment modality-with exercise, which is crucial in shoulder rehabilitation, by evaluating the effects of both treatments on pain reduction, shoulder function, and quality of life in patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 36
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Ayşe U Baykut; Phone Number: +0905367355246; Email: drukbe@hotmail.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: kerem Çekinel

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Çankaya
    • Ankara, Çankaya, Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Bilkent City Hospital
      • Contact: Ayşe U Baykut; Phone Number: +0905367355246; Email: drukbe@hotmail.com
      • Sub-Investigator: kerem çekinel
      • Sub-Investigator: Güldal F Yüzer Nakipoğlu
      • Sub-Investigator: Nilüfer K Ordu Gökkaya
      • Sub-Investigator: Rabia Can

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Individuals experiencing pain in the shoulder and/or lateral deltoid region, with pain exacerbation during overhead activities.
2. Individuals exhibiting tenderness upon palpation at the rotator cuff tendon insertion site on the proximal humerus and/or restricted range of motion during active shoulder flexion, abduction, and internal and external rotation upon physical examination.
3. Individuals diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinosis or a partial-thickness tendon tear via imaging methods (ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Full-thickness rotator cuff tear
2. Previous shoulder surgery
3. Presence of other conditions capable of causing shoulder pain and loss of function (other joint pathologies, cervical radiculopathy, etc.)
4. Systemic diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis, or coagulopathy
5. Pregnancy
6. Infection
7. Pacemaker
8. Peripheral circulatory disorder
9. Known concomitant malignancy or end-stage organ failure
10. Intra-articular/subacromial steroid injection within the last 6 weeks or NSAID treatment within the last week.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Physical Therapy Group; A total of 10 treatment sessions-consisting of 5 sessions per week-will be administered, comprising a shoulder exercise program that includes range-of-motion exercises, stretching exercises (targeting the posterior joint capsule and pectoral muscles), rotator cuff strengthening exercises, and scapular mobilization exercises.	Device: tecar therapy; A shoulder exercise program-comprising range-of-motion exercises, stretching exercises (including the posterior joint capsule and pectoral muscles), rotator cuff strengthening exercises, and scapular mobilization exercises-will be administered over a total of 10 sessions, at a frequency of 5 sessions per week. In addition to the exercises, TECAR therapy will be administered over a total of 10 sessions (5 sessions per week), consisting of a total duration of 25 minutes (10 minutes in capacitive mode and 15 minutes in resistive mode at a frequency of 448 kHz).; Other: physical therapy; A total of 10 treatment sessions-consisting of 5 sessions per week-will be administered, comprising a shoulder exercise program that includes range-of-motion exercises, stretching exercises (targeting the posterior joint capsule and pectoral muscles), rotator cuff strengthening exercises, and scapular mobilization exercises.
Active Comparator: TECAR Group; In addition to exercise, TECAR therapy will be administered for a total of 10 sessions-at a frequency of 448 kHz and a duration of 25 minutes per session (10 minutes in capacitive mode and 15 minutes in resistive mode)-with a frequency of 5 sessions per week.	Device: tecar therapy; A shoulder exercise program-comprising range-of-motion exercises, stretching exercises (including the posterior joint capsule and pectoral muscles), rotator cuff strengthening exercises, and scapular mobilization exercises-will be administered over a total of 10 sessions, at a frequency of 5 sessions per week. In addition to the exercises, TECAR therapy will be administered over a total of 10 sessions (5 sessions per week), consisting of a total duration of 25 minutes (10 minutes in capacitive mode and 15 minutes in resistive mode at a frequency of 448 kHz).; Other: physical therapy; A total of 10 treatment sessions-consisting of 5 sessions per week-will be administered, comprising a shoulder exercise program that includes range-of-motion exercises, stretching exercises (targeting the posterior joint capsule and pectoral muscles), rotator cuff strengthening exercises, and scapular mobilization exercises.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)	Visual Analog Scale (VAS): Pain intensity will be assessed using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS), ranging from 0 ("no pain") to 10 ("worst pain imaginable"). Participants will mark the point on the scale that best represents their perceived pain intensity at the time of assessment. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.	Baseline (T0)Week 2 (T1): At the end of the first group treatmentPost-treatment (T2): Immediately after completion of the treatment program

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Shoulder joint range of motion measurements	Shoulder Joint Range of Motion (ROM): Joint range of motion will be assessed using a standard goniometer. The range of motion of the specified joint(s) will be measured in degrees (°) according to standardized measurement procedures. Higher values indicate a greater range of joint motion.	Baseline (T0)Week 2 (T1): At the end of the first group treatmentPost-treatment (T2): Immediately after completion of the treatment program
Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index	Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC): The Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) is a patient-reported outcome measure used to assess health-related quality of life in individuals with rotator cuff disorders. It consists of 21 items covering five domains: physical symptoms, sports/recreation, work, lifestyle, and emotions. Each item is scored on a visual analog scale. The total score is transformed to a 0-100 scale, with higher scores indicating poorer quality of life.	Baseline (T0)Week 2 (T1): At the end of the first group treatmentPost-treatment (T2): Immediately after completion of the treatment program
Shoulder Pain and Disabilty Index	Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI): The Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) is a patient-reported outcome measure designed to assess pain and disability related to shoulder disorders. It consists of 13 items divided into two subscales: pain (5 items) and disability (8 items). Each item is scored on a visual analog scale from 0 to 10. The total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater pain and disability.	Baseline (T0)Week 2 (T1): At the end of the first group treatmentPost-treatment (T2): Immediately after completion of the treatment program
Nottingham Health Profile (NHP)	Nottingham Health Profile (NHP): The Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) is a patient-reported outcome measure used to assess perceived health-related quality of life. It consists of 38 yes/no items covering six domains: energy level, pain, emotional reactions, sleep, social isolation, and physical mobility. Each domain is scored from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater perceived health problems and poorer health-related quality of life.	Baseline (T0)Week 2 (T1): At the end of the first group treatmentPost-treatment (T2): Immediately after completion of the treatment program

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ayşe Ukbe Baykut
• Collaborators: Ankara Bilkent Sehir Hastanesi
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ayşe U BAYKUT, Ankara City Hospital Bilkent

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): September 18, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 18, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 11, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 11, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): September 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 17, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 11, 2026
• Last Verified: September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Physical Therapy; Rotator cuff tendinopathy; TECAR therapy; TR-terapi- targeted Radiofrequency Therapy
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Therapeutics; Rehabilitation; Physical Therapy Modalities
• Other Study ID Numbers: ACHBİLKENTAUBAYKUT006

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: I haven't been able to decide yet.

Drug and device information, study documents

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