The Effectiveness of Different Exercise Approaches in Biceps Brachii Long Head Tendinopathy

NCT07025668 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: BisepsLongHead
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study was planned to analyze the changes in tendon cross-sectional area and shoulder pain with different exercise approaches applied in biceps brachii long head tendinopathy.

Conditions

Sports Physical Therapy; Tendinopathy

Keywords

biceps brachii; tendinopathy; tendon cross-sectional area; shoulder pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Tendon Cross-Sectional Area

  Ultrasound will be used to measure tendon cross-sectional area.

  Baseline and 12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

  Baseline and 12 weeks

Study Arms (3)

Eccentric Exercise Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

In the eccentric exercise group, in addition to strengthening exercises for the periscapular muscles and stretching exercises for the biceps brachii muscle, eccentric strengthening exercises for the biceps brachii muscle will be given.

Other: Eccentric Exercise

Combined-Exercise Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

In the combined exercise group, in addition to strengthening exercises for the periscapular muscles and stretching exercises for the biceps brachii muscle, progressive isometric, isotonic and plyometric strengthening training will be given to the biceps brachii muscle.

Other: Combined Exercise

Control Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

In the control group, strengthening exercises for the periscapular muscles and stretching exercises for the biceps brachii muscle will be given. Strengthening exercises for the biceps brachii muscle will not be given in this group.

Other: Control Group Exercise

Interventions

Eccentric Exercise OTHER

In the eccentric exercise group, in addition to strengthening exercises for the periscapular muscles and stretching exercises for the biceps brachii muscle, eccentric strengthening exercises for the biceps brachii muscle will be given. Participants will do the exercises in the groups they were randomized to every day for 12 weeks. They will be called to the clinic once a week for exercise checks.

Eccentric Exercise Group

Combined Exercise OTHER

In the combined exercise group, in addition to strengthening exercises for the periscapular muscles and stretching exercises for the biceps brachii muscle, progressive isometric, isotonic and plyometric strengthening training will be given to the biceps brachii muscle. Participants will do the exercises in the groups they were randomized to every day for 12 weeks. They will be called to the clinic once a week for exercise checks.

Combined-Exercise Group

Control Group Exercise OTHER

In the control group, strengthening exercises for the periscapular muscles and stretching exercises for the biceps brachii muscle will be given. Strengthening exercises for the biceps brachii muscle will not be given in this group. Participants will do the exercises in the groups they were randomized to every day for 12 weeks. They will be called to the clinic once a week for exercise checks.

Control Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Having shoulder pain lasting 3 months or more
• Without a history of surgery, having a diagnosis of shoulder rotator cuff tendinopathy, rotator cuff stage 1-2 tear or subacromial impingement, and having been diagnosed with secondary biceps long head tendinopathy by a physician
• Pain level during activity \> 3 according to the visual analog scale
• Patients who have been informed about the study and have given written consent to participate in the study will be included in the study.

You may not qualify if:

• Acute shoulder injury
• History of shoulder and cervical surgery
• Limitation of passive range of motion
• History of local corticosteroid injection within the last 12 months
• Patients who cannot comply with the exercise program will be excluded from the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hacettepe University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Hacettepe University Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

Related Publications (4)

• Friedman DJ, Dunn JC, Higgins LD, Warner JJ. Proximal biceps tendon: injuries and management. Sports Med Arthrosc Rev. 2008 Sep;16(3):162-9. doi: 10.1097/JSA.0b013e318184f549.

  PMID: 18703976 BACKGROUND

• Ahrens PM, Boileau P. The long head of biceps and associated tendinopathy. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2007 Aug;89(8):1001-9. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.89B8.19278.

  PMID: 17785735 BACKGROUND

• Chen RE, Voloshin I. Long Head of Biceps Injury: Treatment Options and Decision Making. Sports Med Arthrosc Rev. 2018 Sep;26(3):139-144. doi: 10.1097/JSA.0000000000000206.

  PMID: 30059449 BACKGROUND

• Ryu JH, Pedowitz RA. Rehabilitation of biceps tendon disorders in athletes. Clin Sports Med. 2010 Apr;29(2):229-46, vii-viii. doi: 10.1016/j.csm.2009.12.003.

  PMID: 20226316 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Tendinopathy; Shoulder Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Tendon Injuries; Wounds and Injuries; Arthralgia; Joint Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Ebru G SEZİK, Msc

  Hacettepe University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Ebru G SEZİK, Msc

CONTACT

05532025875; ebrugulozdemiir@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Participants in all three groups performed the given exercises without knowing which group they were included in. Outcome assessments will be performed by an investigator who was blinded to group allocation.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: three groups with a conventional therapy control group

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 5, 2025
• First Posted: June 17, 2025
• Study Start: May 9, 2025
• Primary Completion: October 30, 2025
• Study Completion: November 30, 2025
• Last Updated: June 17, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)