An interventional study of Rotator cuff Drills and Progressive resistance exercises in Rotator Cuff Tendinosis, sponsored by Riphah International University. Recruiting at 1 site in Pakistan. Open to male participants aged 17 Years to 35 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-30.
Sponsored by Riphah International University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
A single-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted with 30 male overhead athletes (17-35 years) recruited from cricket clubs and sports complexes in Faisalabad. Participants were randomized into Group A (rotator cuff drills: plyometric medicine ball throws, wall dribbles) or Group B (PREs: resistance band exercises with progressive loading). Both groups underwent 12-week interventions (3 sessions/week) following the FIIT principle (Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type), preceded by a standardized 20-minute warm-up. Outcomes were assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST), and Upper Limb Rotation Test (ULRT) at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Data were analyzed using SPSS v24, with statistical significance set at *p* ≤ 0.05. Descriptive statistics (mean, SD) summarized continuous variables, while frequencies/percentages described categorical data. Normality was confirmed via Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Between-group differences were analyzed using independent *t*-tests, and within-group changes via paired *t*-tests. The study's rigorous blinding and standardized protocols minimized bias, ensuring robust comparisons between interventions.
Rotator cuff tendinopathy is a prevalent condition among overhead athletes, significantly impairing performance and function. While both rotator cuff drills and progressive resistance exercises (PREs) are commonly used in rehabilitation, there remains a lack of comparative evidence on their effectiveness, particularly in sport-specific contexts.
Current literature highlights gaps in optimal exercise progression, long-term outcomes, and objective performance metrics for overhead athletes. This study aims to compare these two interventions to determine which approach better improves pain, stability, and functional performance in athletes with chronic rotator cuff tendinopathy, addressing a critical need for evidence-based rehabilitation protocols in sports medicine. A single-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted with 30 male overhead athletes (17-35 years) recruited from cricket clubs and sports complexes in Faisalabad. Participants were randomized into Group A (rotator cuff drills: plyometric medicine ball throws, wall dribbles) or Group B (PREs: resistance band exercises with progressive loading). Both groups underwent 12-week interventions (3 sessions/week) following the FIIT principle (Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type), preceded by a standardized 20-minute warm-up. Outcomes were assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST), and Upper Limb Rotation Test (ULRT) at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Data were analyzed using SPSS v24, with statistical significance set at *p* ≤ 0.05. Descriptive statistics (mean, SD) summarized continuous variables, while frequencies/percentages described categorical data. Normality was confirmed via Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Between-group differences were analyzed using independent *t*-tests, and within-group changes via paired *t*-tests. The study's rigorous blinding and standardized protocols minimized bias, ensuring robust comparisons between interventions.
Exclusion Criteria:
Rotator cuff Drills
Other: Rotator cuff Drills
Progressive resistance exercises
Other: Progressive resistance exercises
(rotator cuff drills: plyometric medicine ball throws, wall dribbles)
PREs: resistance band exercises with progressive loading). Both groups underwent 12-week interventions (3 sessions/week) following the FIIT principle (Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type), preceded by a standardized 20-minute warm-up.
Pain through NPRS
The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is an 11-point pain intensity scale where patients rate their pain from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain),
Time frame: Pre and 6 week post interventional
CKCUEST Scale
The Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST) is a rapid, low-cost functional assessment tool used by physical therapists and sports medicine professionals to quantify shoulder stability, upper-limb power, and trunk control.
Time frame: Pre and 6 week post interventional
ULRT Test
The Upper Limb Rotation Test (ULRT) is a physical performance test used in sports medicine and physiotherapy to assess shoulder control, closed-chain stability, and trunk rotation.
Time frame: Pre and 6 week post interventional
Plan to share: No
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Riphah International University