Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Techniques in Proximal Humerus Fractures

NCT05960435 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: IUC35
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to compare the effect of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) techniques on functional status, pain, range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, quality of life, and patient satisfaction in people with Proximal Humerus Fracture. There will be two groups, PNF and conservative treatment, and the program will consist of 6 weeks. Patients will randomly be assigned to the conservative treatment group and the PNF group. Patients in the conservative group will deliver shoulder muscle static stretching, active-assistive ROM exercises, scapular mobilization, posterior capsule stretching, and isometric strengthening for 3 weeks. Between 3-6 weeks these exercises will progress and shoulder muscles strengthening via Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) and active ROM exercises will add to the program. Patients in the PNF group will deliver PNF stretching, active-assistive ROM exercises, PNF scapular patterns mobilization, posterior capsule stretching, and isometric strengthening for 3 weeks. Between 3-6 weeks PNF stretching and scapular mobilization exercises will progress and PNF strengthening and active ROM exercises will add to the program.

Conditions

Proximal Humeral Fracture

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire

  The DASH is a validated score to assess the physical function and symptoms of people with upper limb disabilities. It contains 30 questions: 6 items about symptoms and 21 items about function. Patients answer the questions using a 5-point, scaling from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more disability.

  6 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• The Constant-Murley (CSM)

  6 weeks

• Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

  6 weeks

• Range of Motion (ROM)

  6 weeks

• Muscle strength

  6 weeks

• The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK)

  6 weeks

Study Arms (2)

PNF group

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients in the PNF group will deliver PNF stretching, active-assistive ROM exercises, PNF scapular patterns mobilization, posterior capsule stretching, and isometric strengthening for 3 weeks. Between 3-6 weeks PNF stretching and scapular mobilization exercises will progress and PNF strengthening and active ROM exercises will add to the program.

Other: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

Control group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Patients in the conservative group will deliver shoulder muscle static stretching, active-assistive ROM exercises, scapular mobilization, posterior capsule stretching, and isometric strengthening for 3 weeks. Between 3-6 weeks these exercises will progress and shoulder muscles strengthening via NMES and active ROM exercises will add to the program.

Other: Control Group Exercise

Interventions

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation OTHER

PNF, a method used to increase the range of motion of the joint and strengthen the muscles in the newly gained range, is a holistic approach and is based on motor learning principles. PNF stretching involves isometric contraction of the target muscle in addition to static stretching.

PNF group

Control Group Exercise OTHER

The control group will include static stretching, capsule stretching, progressive ROM exercises and strengthening exercises.

Control group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Patients diagnosed with humerus proximal fracture and stable information obtained by an orthopedist
• Patients aged ≥ 18 years
• Patients who volunteered to participate in the study

You may not qualify if:

• Bad union of tuberculum majus
• Advanced osteoporosis
• Humeral head avascular necrosis
• Presence of severe cardiac disease
• Uncontrollable hypertension
• Presence of neurological and rheumatological disease
• Presence of recurrent infection and open wound incision in the region
• Patients with communication problems
• Patients for whom exercise is not indicated

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa: lead

Study Sites (1)

İstanbul University-Cerrahpasa

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Kus G, Zengin Alpozgen A, Razak Ozdincler A, Gungor F, Altun S. The effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation techniques versus conventional therapy in patients with proximal humerus fracture: randomized controlled trial. Physiother Theory Pract. 2025 Sep;41(9):1851-1865. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2025.2486418. Epub 2025 Apr 1.

  PMID: 40170293 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Shoulder Fractures

Interventions

Muscle Stretching Exercises

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Fractures, Bone; Wounds and Injuries; Shoulder Injuries

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Ayse Zengin Alpozgen

  Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

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

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 17, 2023
• First Posted: July 25, 2023
• Study Start: July 28, 2023
• Primary Completion: October 25, 2024
• Study Completion: November 2, 2024
• Last Updated: November 5, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)