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RecruitingNCT07568340SAIS-REHABUpdated May 8, 2026

Comparison of Supervised Rehabilitation and Home Exercise Programs in Subacromial Impingement Syndrome

An interventional study of Supervised Rehabilitation Program and Home Exercise Program in Subacromial Impingement Syndrome, sponsored by Izmir Katip Celebi University. Recruiting at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 30 Years to 65 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-08.

Sponsored by Izmir Katip Celebi University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 4 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Dec 2025, registered Apr 2026).
  • Started Dec 2025; still recruiting 10 months later.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
63
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
30 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of physiotherapist-supervised rehabilitation and home exercise programs in individuals with subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS). SAIS is a common musculoskeletal disorder characterized by shoulder pain, reduced range of motion, and functional limitations, negatively affecting quality of life.

Participants diagnosed with SAIS will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: a supervised rehabilitation group, a home exercise group, or a control group. Randomization will be performed using an online randomization tool. Individuals in the supervised rehabilitation group will receive a structured physiotherapy program administered by a physiotherapist, while those in the home exercise group will perform a standardized exercise program at home following initial instruction. Participants in the control group will not receive any intervention during the study period and will be assessed only.

Outcome measures including pain intensity, upper extremity function, range of motion, grip strength, sleep quality, and quality of life will be evaluated at baseline and after the intervention period. The results of this study are expected to provide evidence regarding the comparative effectiveness of supervised and home-based exercise approaches in the management of SAIS.

Read the detailed description

Subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS) is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain, leading to decreased range of motion, muscle weakness, functional limitations, and reduced quality of life. Exercise-based rehabilitation is considered a primary conservative treatment approach. However, access to supervised physiotherapy services may be limited due to long waiting times and healthcare system constraints. Home exercise programs may serve as an alternative, but evidence comparing their effectiveness with supervised rehabilitation remains limited.

This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to compare the effectiveness of physiotherapist-supervised rehabilitation and home exercise programs in individuals with SAIS. A total of 63 participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be recruited and randomly assigned into three groups: supervised rehabilitation, home exercise, and control.

Randomization will be performed using an online randomization tool. Participants allocated to the supervised rehabilitation group will receive a structured rehabilitation program consisting of pain management modalities, range of motion exercises, strengthening exercises, and functional training under the supervision of a physiotherapist, five days per week for four weeks. The home exercise group will receive a structured exercise program including stretching, strengthening, and mobility exercises after a single training session and will continue the program independently at home. Participants in the control group will not receive any intervention during the study period and will be included in the supervised rehabilitation program after the final assessment.

Outcome measures will include pain intensity assessed by Visual Analog Scale, upper extremity function assessed by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (DASH), shoulder range of motion measured by goniometer, grip strength measured by dynamometer, sleep quality assessed by a single-item sleep quality scale, and quality of life assessed by the WHOQOL-BREF. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention period.

The findings of this study will contribute to the literature by providing evidence on the comparative effectiveness of supervised rehabilitation and home-based exercise programs and may guide clinical decision-making in the management of SAIS.

02

Conditions studied

  • Subacromial Impingement Syndrome
03

In context

Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

304 studies on the registry are indexed under Shoulder Impingement Syndrome; 55 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 63 is above the median of 54 across 261 interventional studies indexed under Shoulder Impingement Syndrome.

Browse Shoulder Impingement Syndrome studies →

Lead sponsor

Izmir Katip Celebi University is the lead sponsor of 191 studies on the registry; 40 are open to participants now.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
30 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • Voluntary participation in the study
  • Literate in Turkish
  • Aged between 30 and 65 years
  • No visual or hearing impairment
  • Diagnosed with unilateral subacromial impingement syndrome by a specialist physician
  • Positive painful arc test, Infraspinatus test, and Hawkins-Kennedy test
  • Pain during overhead activities

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of a mental or psychological disorder that may affect study findings
  • Inadequate cooperation
  • History of upper extremity fracture within the last 6 months
  • Presence of cervical neurological symptoms
  • Glenohumeral instability
  • Acromioclavicular joint pathology
  • Full-thickness rotator cuff tear or total rupture
  • Signs of glenohumeral osteoarthritis
  • History of frozen shoulder
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Participant)
Enrollment
63 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Supervised Rehabilitation

    Participants in this group will receive a physiotherapist-supervised rehabilitation program five days per week for four weeks. The program will include pain management approaches, stretching exercises, range of motion exercises, scapular stabilization exercises, strengthening exercises, and activity modification training according to standard physiotherapy procedures.

    Behavioral: Supervised Rehabilitation Program

  • Experimental
    Home Exercise Program

    Participants in this group will receive a structured home exercise program after an education session. The program will include stretching, range of motion, scapular stabilization, and strengthening exercises to be performed independently at home for four weeks.

    Behavioral: Home Exercise Program

  • No intervention
    Control

    Participants in this group will not receive any intervention during the four-week study period. Baseline and follow-up assessments will be performed. Individuals who are required to wait more than four weeks before starting physiotherapy sessions will be included in this group.

Interventions

  • BehavioralSupervised Rehabilitation Program

    A physiotherapist-supervised rehabilitation program including pain management approaches, stretching exercises, range of motion exercises, scapular stabilization exercises, strengthening exercises, and activity modification training administered five days per week for four weeks.

  • BehavioralHome Exercise Program

    A structured home exercise program including stretching, range of motion, scapular stabilization, and strengthening exercises performed independently at home for four weeks following an education session.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain Intensity

    Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (0-10 cm) during rest, activity, and night pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain severity.

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 0, prior to intervention) and Week 4 (end of intervention)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Upper Extremity Function

    Upper extremity function will be assessed using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire-Short Form (DASH-SF; 0-100). Higher scores indicate greater disability.

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 0, prior to intervention) and Week 4 (end of intervention)

  2. Shoulder Range of Motion

    Shoulder flexion, extension, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation range of motion will be measured using a universal goniometer.

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 0, prior to intervention) and Week 4 (end of intervention)

  3. Grip Strength

    Grip strength of the affected upper extremity will be assessed using a hand dynamometer.

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 0, prior to intervention) and Week 4 (end of intervention)

  4. Sleep Quality

    Sleep quality will be assessed using the Single-Item Sleep Quality Scale (0-10). Higher scores indicate poorer sleep quality.

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 0, prior to intervention) and Week 4 (end of intervention)

  5. Quality of Life-WHOQOL-BREF

    Quality of life will be assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Higher scores indicate better quality of life

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 0, prior to intervention) and Week 4 (end of intervention)

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Kırsehir Ahi Evran University
    Kırşehir, Kırşehir 40100, Turkey (Türkiye)
    Recruiting
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Gutierrez-Espinoza H, Araya-Quintanilla F, Cereceda-Muriel C, Alvarez-Bueno C, Martinez-Vizcaino V, Cavero-Redondo I. Effect of supervised physiotherapy versus home exercise program in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Phys Ther Sport. 2020 Jan;41:34-42. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2019.11.003. Epub 2019 Nov 6. PubMed 31726386 ↗
  • Diercks R, Bron C, Dorrestijn O, Meskers C, Naber R, de Ruiter T, Willems J, Winters J, van der Woude HJ; Dutch Orthopaedic Association. Guideline for diagnosis and treatment of subacromial pain syndrome: a multidisciplinary review by the Dutch Orthopaedic Association. Acta Orthop. 2014 Jun;85(3):314-22. doi: 10.3109/17453674.2014.920991. Epub 2014 May 21. PubMed 24847788 ↗
  • Horowitz EH, Aibinder WR. Shoulder Impingement Syndrome. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2023 May;34(2):311-334. doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2022.12.001. Epub 2023 Feb 26. PubMed 37003655 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on May 8, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07568340
Lead sponsor
Izmir Katip Celebi University
Collaborators
Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi
Responsible party
Merve Kurt-Aydin (Assistant Professor, Izmir Katip Celebi University) — Principal investigator
First posted
May 5, 2026
Start date
Dec 2, 2025
Primary completion
Sep 2, 2026 (estimated)
Completion
Sep 2, 2026 (estimated)
Last update
May 8, 2026

Oversight

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

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