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

NCT07823933 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: ACHBİLKENTAUBAYKUT006
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy; TECAR Therapy; Physical Therapy

Keywords

Rotator cuff tendinopathy; TECAR therapy; Physical Therapy; TR-terapi- targeted Radiofrequency Therapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• 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 Outcomes (4)

• Shoulder joint range of motion measurements

  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

  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

  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)

  Baseline (T0)Week 2 (T1): At the end of the first group treatmentPost-treatment (T2): Immediately after completion of the treatment program

Study Arms (2)

Physical Therapy Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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; Other: physical therapy

TECAR Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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; Other: physical therapy

Interventions

tecar therapy DEVICE

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).

Physical Therapy Group; TECAR Group

physical therapy OTHER

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.

Physical Therapy Group; TECAR 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:

• Individuals experiencing pain in the shoulder and/or lateral deltoid region, with pain exacerbation during overhead activities.
• 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.
• Individuals diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinosis or a partial-thickness tendon tear via imaging methods (ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging).

You may not qualify if:

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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ayşe Ukbe Baykut: lead
• Ankara Bilkent Sehir Hastanesi: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Bilkent City Hospital

Ankara, Ankara, 06800, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Physical Therapy Modalities

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Therapeutics; Rehabilitation

Study Officials

• Ayşe U BAYKUT

  Ankara City Hospital Bilkent

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Ayşe U Baykut

CONTACT

+0905367355246; drukbe@hotmail.com

kerem Çekinel

CONTACT

Study Design

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

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 11, 2026
• First Posted: September 17, 2026
• Study Start: September 18, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 18, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2026
• Last Updated: September 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)