EFFECTS OF BREATHING EXERCISES ON PAIN AND FUNCTIONALITY IN ROTATOR CUFF TEARS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

NCT05584345 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: E-10840098-202.3.02-240
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

As it causes pain and disability in individuals with rotator cuff lesions, which is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain, it affects performance in activities of daily living. Shoulder pain significantly affects the quality of life of individuals. The aim of conventional treatment in Rotator Cuff injuries is to reduce the inflammation in the area and to enable the shoulder to perform its normal functions. Conventional treatment is to restore muscle balance in the shoulder area. Muscle balance is achieved by strengthening the teres minor, infraspinatus, and subscapularis, which are also the humeral head depressors, and by strengthening the serratus anterior, levator scapula. For strengthening, the shoulder must have a full range of motion. In our study, stretching exercises, cold pack, Ultrasound, TENS, wand, and Codman exercises, which are classical physiotherapy methods, will be applied to all three groups. There are also studies in the literature investigating the effects of traditional physiotherapy methods on individuals with shoulder Rotator Cuff syndrome. The benefits of breathing exercises on pain, shoulder joint range of motion, and balance have all been researched in the literature. Increased diaphragm activity also guarantees that posture and body positions are maintained healthily. Diaphragm activity generally alters how an individual perceives pain. Diaphragmatic breathing is a therapeutic approach for musculoskeletal disorders.

Conditions

Rotator Cuff Syndrome

Keywords

respiratory exercises; rotator cuff syndrome; pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Visual Analog scale (VAS)

  Pain intensity will be with VAS that is a tool commonly used to assess the intensity of musculoskeletal pain (18). The VAS will be used to evaluate the level of shoulder pain experienced by participants at rest, and during activity. Participants were asked to rate their pain intensity on a scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "worst possible pain." The participants' responses will be recorded in the case report forms.

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at six weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Goniometric Measurement

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at six weeks

• DASH

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at six weeks

Study Arms (2)

Conventional therapy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Traditional physiotherapy applications will be applied.

Other: Conventional Treatment and manual therapy

breathing exercises and conventional therapy program

EXPERIMENTAL

In addition to traditional physiotherapy, respiratory exercises will be applied.

Other: Manual therapy and Respiratory Exercises

Interventions

Conventional Treatment and manual therapy OTHER

Cold pack, ultrasound, TENS, finger ladder, Codman, shoulder wheel, and Wand exercises, as well as stretching and capsule exercises, will be used in addition to conventional physiotherapy. There will be 30 repetitions in each direction of the Codman exercises. 5 days a week, for a total of 30 sessions, the afflicted shoulder will get 6 minutes of daily US treatment, with complete contact to the shoulder area and at a right angle. All patients will receive manual stretching in the shoulder flexion, abduction, extension, external rotation, and internal rotation directions. In addition, participants will receive manual therapy techniques, including Glenohumeral joint (GH) distraction, glenohumeral joint inferior gliding, anterior gliding, and posterior gliding, scapulothoracic joint distraction, scapulothoracic joint superior, inferior, medial, and lateral gliding. Each manual therapy technique was performed with 10 repetitions per participant

Conventional therapy

Manual therapy and Respiratory Exercises OTHER

In addition to the treatment program applied in conventional therapy and manual therapy,, participants in this group also will perform diaphragmatic breathing exercises, pursed-lip breathing exercises, and relaxation breathing exercises. Each breathing exercise will be performed with 10 repetitions under physiotherapist supervision. Participants were also asked to continue the breathing exercises at home, performing them three times a day with 10 repetitions per session for a duration of six weeks.

breathing exercises and conventional therapy program

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• The participants were between the ages of 30 and 55
• No history of shoulder surgery
• Exhibited restricted shoulder joint range of motion,
• A diagnosed rotator cuff tear

You may not qualify if:

• individuals with a history of significant shoulder trauma
• anatomical deformities, skeletal fractures, diagnosed orthopedic or rheumatologic disorders, participation in a physiotherapy program within the last six months
• Presence of a cardiac pacemaker, current infections, recent myocardial infarction (within the last six months), or any other condition that could interfere with their ability to perform the prescribed exercises

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul Medipol University Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istanbul Medipol University

Istanbul, 34820, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pain

Interventions

Musculoskeletal Manipulations

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation

Study Officials

• BURAK MENEK, PhD

  Medipol University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• UMUT İSLAM TAYBOĞA, RA

  Medipol University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Sule Ayan, Msc

  Medipol University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

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

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 20, 2022
• First Posted: October 18, 2022
• Study Start: October 30, 2022
• Primary Completion: July 3, 2023
• Study Completion: July 3, 2023
• Last Updated: December 8, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Locations

TU (1)