An interventional study of Conventional exercise group and IASTM group in Subacromial Impingement Syndrome, Massage and Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, sponsored by Istanbul Medipol University Hospital. Completed at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 40 Years to 60 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-06.
Sponsored by Istanbul Medipol University Hospital · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The aim of this study will be to investigate the effects of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM), applied in addition to a conventional exercise program, on pain, range of motion, proprioception, functionality, and quality of life in individuals with Subacromial Impingement Syndrome (SIS).
The aim of this study will be to investigate the effects of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM), applied in addition to a conventional exercise program, on pain, range of motion, proprioception, functionality, and quality of life in individuals with Subacromial Impingement Syndrome (SIS).
A total of 38 participants will be included in the study and will be randomly assigned to either the Conventional Exercise Group or the IASTM Group. Both groups will receive treatment for 4 weeks, three sessions per week, for a total of 12 sessions.
Before the intervention, both groups will be assessed for pain (VAS), range of motion (goniometer), joint position sense (goniometer), functionality (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand - DASH), and quality of life (Rotator Cuff Quality of Life - RC-QoL).
320 studies on the registry are indexed under Shoulder Impingement Syndrome; 62 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 38 is below the median of 54 across 271 interventional studies indexed under Shoulder Impingement Syndrome.
Browse Shoulder Impingement Syndrome studies →Istanbul Medipol University Hospital is the lead sponsor of 366 studies on the registry; 46 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Conventional exercises will be applied.
Other: Conventional exercise group
In addition to the conventional exercises, Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) will be applied.
Other: Conventional exercise group · Other: IASTM group
All participants will receive a standardized electrotherapy program in a clinical setting, consisting of TENS (100 Hz, 30 minutes), ultrasound (1.5 W/cm², 8 minutes), and a 15-minute cold-pack application, delivered three times per week for four weeks. In addition to electrotherapy, participants in the conventional exercise group will perform a physiotherapist-guided exercise program aimed at improving shoulder flexion, abduction, internal and external rotation through stretching and range-of-motion exercises. The program will include Codman exercises, wand exercises, finger-ladder activities, and condition-appropriate strengthening exercises, progressed according to each participant's pain level and tolerance.
Participants in the IASTM group will receive Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization in addition to the conventional treatment program, three days per week for four weeks, for a total of 12 sessions. The IASTM technique will be applied to the subscapularis, anterior deltoid, biceps brachii, upper trapezius, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres major, teres minor, and posterior deltoid muscles. For each muscle group, the treatment will be administered for 20 seconds in a parallel direction and 20 seconds in a perpendicular direction, using sweep and brush techniques at an angle of approximately 45 degrees.
Visual Analog Scale
The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is a tool used to measure pain intensity as a single-dimensional construct across different adult populations. It typically consists of a horizontal or vertical line measuring 10 cm in length. On this scale, a score of 0 indicates no pain, while a score of 10 represents the worst pain imaginable.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Range of motion
Shoulder flexion, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation range of motion will be assessed using a universal goniometer while the patient is positioned in supine and performs the movements actively.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH)
The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire is a scale that evaluates functional status and capability following injuries or disorders affecting the upper extremity. The DASH consists of 30 items. These items assess difficulties encountered during specific tasks, as well as pain, numbness, stiffness, weakness, sleep problems, self-confidence, and participation in social activities. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater impairment in upper extremity function.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Joint position sense
To evaluate shoulder proprioception, joint position sense will be measured at 60° of shoulder flexion and 60° of shoulder abduction. During the assessment, participants will be positioned in standing and guided to the target angles by the physiotherapist using a goniometer. In each position, participants will be asked to maintain 60° of flexion or 60° of abduction for 10 seconds with their eyes open and to memorize the perceived position. They will then be instructed to reproduce the same movement with their eyes closed. The difference between the angle measured with eyes open and the angle reproduced with eyes closed will be recorded as the joint position sense error (error angle).
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Rotator cuff quality of life Index
Quality of life in individuals with shoulder pathology was evaluated using the Rotator Cuff Quality of Life (RC-QoL) questionnaire. The RC-QoL consists of 34 items and five subscales. Results are interpreted in a positive direction; as the RC-QoL score increases, the individual's shoulder-related quality of life is considered to have improved, and symptoms are regarded as reduced.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Ran from Jan 2026 to primary completion in Nov 2026, 9 months.
Of 170 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Shoulder Impingement Syndrome, half reached primary completion within 11 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 24. This study's 9 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 172 studies reached it within 12 months; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 24.
Since we started tracking on Sep 25, 2026, the dates moved once, on Nov 6, 2026: primary completion May 2026 → Nov 2026 and completion May 2026 → Nov 2026.
Earlier changes are on the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is completed, as verified in Nov 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Shoulder Impingement Syndrome →
Istanbul Medipol University Hospital →