An interventional study of tecar therapy and physical therapy in Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy, TECAR Therapy and Physical Therapy, sponsored by Ayşe Ukbe Baykut. Completed at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-04.
Sponsored by Ayşe Ukbe Baykut · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
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.
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. Its prevalence is estimated to be between 15% and 30% of the population. The most common cause of shoulder pain is rotator cuff (RC) tendinopathy. This structure surrounds the shoulder and comprises the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and teres minor muscles, as well as the long head of the biceps brachii-though some authors exclude the biceps brachii. Rotator cuff tendinopathy is a prevalent health issue characterized by chronic degeneration resulting from repetitive stress on the shoulder. This degeneration can lead to a range of clinical presentations, varying from simple tendinosis to partial- or full-thickness rotator cuff tears. Multiple factors-such as excessive tensile loading, primary and secondary subacromial impingement, and deficiencies in repair mechanisms-play a role in the development of rotator cuff tendinopathy. 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). It has beneficial effects, particularly in musculoskeletal conditions, by reducing pain and improving functional status. Its efficacy has been investigated-and improvements reported-in conditions such as lower back pain, knee pain, Achilles tendon pathologies, rotator cuff tendon pathologies, pelvic floor disorders, lymphedema, and visceral pathologies like chronic constipation.
There are few studies in the literature regarding the efficacy of TECAR therapy in patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy, and no studies comparing it with exercise have been found. 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.
397 studies on the registry are indexed under Tendinopathy; 77 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 36 is below the median of 48 across 332 interventional studies indexed under Tendinopathy.
Browse Tendinopathy studies →Ayşe Ukbe Baykut is the lead sponsor of 4 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
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
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
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).
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.
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.
Time frame: Baseline (T0)Week 2 (T1): At the end of the first group treatmentPost-treatment (T2): Immediately after completion of the treatment program
Shoulder joint range of motion measurements
Shoulder Joint Range of Motion (ROM): Joint range of motion will be assessed using a standard goniometer. The range of motion of the specified joint(s) will be measured in degrees (°) according to standardized measurement procedures. Higher values indicate a greater range of joint motion.
Time frame: 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
Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC): The Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) is a patient-reported outcome measure used to assess health-related quality of life in individuals with rotator cuff disorders. It consists of 21 items covering five domains: physical symptoms, sports/recreation, work, lifestyle, and emotions. Each item is scored on a visual analog scale. The total score is transformed to a 0-100 scale, with higher scores indicating poorer quality of life.
Time frame: 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
Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI): The Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) is a patient-reported outcome measure designed to assess pain and disability related to shoulder disorders. It consists of 13 items divided into two subscales: pain (5 items) and disability (8 items). Each item is scored on a visual analog scale from 0 to 10. The total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater pain and disability.
Time frame: 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)
Nottingham Health Profile (NHP): The Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) is a patient-reported outcome measure used to assess perceived health-related quality of life. It consists of 38 yes/no items covering six domains: energy level, pain, emotional reactions, sleep, social isolation, and physical mobility. Each domain is scored from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater perceived health problems and poorer health-related quality of life.
Time frame: Baseline (T0)Week 2 (T1): At the end of the first group treatmentPost-treatment (T2): Immediately after completion of the treatment program
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Ayşe Ukbe Baykut