CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT07496554Updated Mar 27, 2026

Long-term Effects of Early Shoulder Exercise After CIED Implantation

An interventional study of Structured Stretching and Strengthening Program and Standard Post-operative Care in Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device (CIED) and Shoulder Dysfunction, sponsored by Erzincan Binali Yildirim Universitesi. Completed at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-03-27.

Sponsored by Erzincan Binali Yildirim Universitesi · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 5 years 1 month after the study started (first participant enrolled Feb 2021, registered Mar 2026).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
89
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Shoulder dysfunction frequently occurs after cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation, adversely affecting quality of life. While early postoperative exercise is known to be effective in the short term, data on long-term durability is limited. This 3-year longitudinal follow-up study evaluates the sustained benefits of pendulum exercises (PE) and stretching \& strengthening exercises (SSE) compared to standard care. We assessed shoulder range of motion, grip strength, and quality of life to determine if early mobilization provides lasting functional recovery without compromising lead safety.

Read the detailed description

This study is a 3-year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial involving patients who underwent transvenous subcutaneous prepectoral CIED implantation. Participants were originally randomized into three groups:

  • Control group (standard care),
  • Pendulum Exercise (PE) group,
  • Stretching and Strengthening Exercise (SSE) group.

The exercise protocols were initiated 2 weeks post-implantation and continued for 6 weeks. In this longitudinal phase, patients were re-evaluated at a 3-year follow-up mark. Functional outcomes were measured using grip strength (kilogram-force), shoulder range of motion (flexion and abduction degrees), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, QuickDASH for functional disability, and the SF-36 survey for quality of life. Long-term safety was also monitored by assessing lead-related complications (dislodgement or fracture) over the 3-year period.

02

Conditions studied

  • Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device (CIED)
  • Shoulder Dysfunction

Keywords

  • Shoulder Pain
  • Muscle Strength
  • Range of Motion
  • Quality of Life
  • Postoperative Complications
03

In context

Shoulder Pain

707 studies on the registry are indexed under Shoulder Pain; 152 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 89 is above the median of 60 across 561 interventional studies indexed under Shoulder Pain.

Browse Shoulder Pain studies →

Lead sponsor

Erzincan Binali Yildirim Universitesi is the lead sponsor of 21 studies on the registry; 10 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients aged 18 years or older.
  • Patients undergoing first-time transvenous subcutaneous prepectoral CIED (Pacemaker, ICD, or CRT) implantation.
  • Patients with no prior history of major shoulder surgery or chronic shoulder pathology on the side of the implantation.
  • Patients who are capable of understanding and performing the prescribed exercise protocols.
  • Patients who provided written informed consent to participate in a 3-year longitudinal follow-up.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients undergoing revision or replacement procedures of existing devices or leads.
  • Pre-existing frozen shoulder, rotator cuff tear, or severe adhesive capsulitis on the implantation side.
  • Neurological or musculoskeletal disorders affecting upper limb function (e.g., prior stroke sequelae or severe cervical disc herniation).
  • Cognitive impairment or psychiatric disorders preventing cooperation with the study protocol.
  • Lead-related complications (e.g., dislodgement or cardiac perforation) occurring within the first 2 weeks post-implantation, prior to the initiation of the exercise program.
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
89 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Other
    Control Group

    atients received standard post-operative instructions with temporary activity restrictions (avoiding heavy lifting and excessive overhead reaching) for the first few weeks, but no structured exercise program.

    Other: Standard Post-operative Care

  • Experimental
    Pendulum Exercise (PE) Group

    Patients performed Codman's pendulum exercises starting 2 weeks post-implantation. The protocol included passive circular movements of the affected arm, performed twice daily for 6 weeks.

    Behavioral: Pendulum Exercise Protocol

  • Experimental
    Stretching and Strengthening Exercise (SSE) Group

    Patients followed a structured program involving active stretching and progressive resistance exercises for the shoulder girdle, starting 2 weeks post-implantation. Exercises were performed every other day for 6 weeks.

    Behavioral: Structured Stretching and Strengthening Program

Interventions

  • BehavioralStructured Stretching and Strengthening Program

    A structured exercise program initiated 2 weeks post-implantation, focusing on active stretching and progressive resistance exercises for the shoulder girdle muscles. The protocol was performed every other day for a total of 6 weeks.

  • OtherStandard Post-operative Care

    Standard clinical follow-up and verbal instructions regarding temporary activity restrictions (e.g., avoiding heavy lifting) without a structured exercise intervention.

  • BehavioralPendulum Exercise Protocol

    Participants performed Codman's pendulum exercises starting 2 weeks after CIED implantation. The protocol involved passive, gravity-assisted circular and linear movements of the affected arm. Exercises were performed twice daily for a duration of 6 weeks.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Shoulder Range of Motion (ROM) - Flexion and Abduction

    Measured in degrees using a universal goniometer. Active shoulder flexion and abduction were recorded to assess functional recovery of the shoulder joint on the side of the CIED implantation.

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-implantation), 2 weeks, 2 months, and 3 years post-implantation.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Hand Grip Strength

    Measured in kilogram-force (kgf) using a Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer. Three measurements were taken for the affected side, and the average value was recorded.

    Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks, 2 months, and 3 years post-implantation.

  2. QuickDASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand) Score

    A shortened version of the DASH questionnaire used to measure physical function and symptoms in patients with musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb. Scores range from 0 (no disability) to 100 (most severe disability).

    Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks, 2 months, and 3 years post-implantation.

  3. hort Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey

    A self-reported questionnaire measuring eight dimensions of health, including physical functioning and mental health. Scores for each domain range from 0 to 100, where higher scores represent better health status.

    Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks, 2 months, and 3 years post-implantation.

Other outcomes

  1. Lead-related complications

    Time frame: Up to 3 years

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Erzincan Binali Yildirim University, Faculty of Medicine
    Erzincan, Erzincan 24100, Turkey (Türkiye)
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Mar 27, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07496554
Lead sponsor
Erzincan Binali Yildirim Universitesi
Responsible party
Muharrem Said Coşgun (Associate Professor, Erzincan Binali Yildirim Universitesi) — Principal investigator
First posted
Mar 27, 2026
Start date
Feb 1, 2021
Primary completion
Mar 1, 2026
Completion
Mar 23, 2026
Last update
Mar 27, 2026

Study contacts

Muharrem Said Cosgun, MD, Assoc. Prof.
principal investigator · Erzincan Binali Yildirim University, Faculty of Medicine

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Mar 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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