Telerehabilitation Intervention for Individuals With Shoulder Pain

NCT04322864 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: eHealthRCT
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 184
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Introduction: Shoulder pain is a condition of high prevalence in the general population. Studies indicate that physiotherapeutic treatment with exercise is effective in reducing pain and restoring function in patients with shoulder pain. Patients may have difficulty accessing the physiotherapy service due to the cost of treatment, transportation to the service, and long waiting lines. A possible solution is the use of a telerehabiliation intervention to increase access to physiotherapy for shoulder pain patients. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of telerehabilitation when compared to in-person physiotherapy on pain and disability in individuals with persistent rotator cuff related shoulder pain. Methods: This study is a controlled, randomized, blinded clinical trial. A total of 184 individuals with shoulder pain were randomly assigned to two groups. One group received a telerehabiliation intervention and the other group received the in-person intervention. The intervention consisted of strengthening exercises with emphasis on the lateral rotator and scapulothoracic muscles. The primary outcome was pain and disability (SPADI, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index), and the secondary outcomes were pain intensity (NPRS, Numerical Pain Rating Scale), function (DASH questionnaire, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand), self-efficacy (CPSS, Chronic Pain Self-Efficacy Scale), kinesiophobia (Cover Scale), patient expectation of treatment (7-point Likert Scale), and patient self-perceived improvement (Global Change Assessment Scale). All outcomes were measured before and after 12 weeks of treatment (2x/week). Normality of data was verified by Kolmogorov Smirnov's test. Differences between groups were assessed using the mixed linear models including the group × time interaction. The effect size was calculated for the variables between the groups. The significance level was set at 5%.

Conditions

Shoulder Pain; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in baseline Shoulder Pain and Disability to 12 weeks

  Shoulder Pain and Disability will be measured with Shoulder Pain and Disability Index with scores ranging from 0 to 100 (higher score reflects higher pain and disability)

  Pre (baseline) treatment, post treatment (12 weeks)

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Change in baseline Pain to 12 weeks

  Pre (baseline) treatment, post treatment (12 weeks)

• Change in baseline Function to 12 weeks

  Pre (baseline) treatment, post treatment (12 weeks)

• Change in baseline Self-efficacy to 12 weeks

  Pre (baseline) treatment, post treatment (12 weeks)

• Change in baseline Kinesiophobia to 12 weeks

  Pre (baseline) treatment, post treatment (12 weeks)

• Patients' expectation with the treatment at baseline

  Pre (baseline) treatment

Study Arms (2)

In-person supervised intervention

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Other: Therapeutic exercises

Web-based instrument intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Other: Therapeutic exercises

Interventions

Therapeutic exercises OTHER

Patients will perform strengthening exercises focusing on scapulothoracic muscles and shoulder lateral rotators.

In-person supervised intervention; Web-based instrument intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Age 18-60;
• Self-reported pain of intensity equal to or greater than 3 points on the numerical pain scale (NDT) at rest or arm movement in the anterolateral region of the shoulder;
• Duration of at least 3 months of shoulder pain;

You may not qualify if:

• History of trauma related to the onset of symptoms;
• History of clavicle, scapula or humerus fracture;
• History of surgical stabilization or rotator cuff repair;
• History of shoulder dislocation;
• Pain related to the cervical spine;
• Adhesive capsulitis;
• Systemic disease involving the joints and cognitive alteration that makes it impossible to carry out questionnaires or use the mobile application.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos: lead

Study Sites (1)

Universidade Federal de São Carlos

São Carlos, São Paulo, 13565-905, Brazil

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Shoulder Pain; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Interventions

Exercise Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Arthralgia; Joint Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 23, 2020
• First Posted: March 26, 2020
• Study Start: October 1, 2021
• Primary Completion: October 1, 2024
• Study Completion: October 1, 2024
• Last Updated: August 3, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

BR (1)