An interventional study of Postural Correction and Flexibility Exercise Program and Scapulothoracic Stabilization Exercise Program in Musculoskeletal Disorders in Violinists, sponsored by Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi. Recruiting at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years to 40 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-03.
Sponsored by Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This study aims to investigate the effects of scapulothoracic stabilization exercises on pain, muscle strength, upper extremity function, and occupational performance in individuals who play the violin. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a control group or an experimental group. Both groups will perform a home-based exercise program for 6 weeks, three days per week. The experimental group will additionally perform scapulothoracic stabilization exercises targeting the muscles around the shoulder blade. Pain, upper extremity function, scapular movement, muscle strength, and violin performance will be assessed before and after the intervention.
Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi is the lead sponsor of 138 studies on the registry; 52 are open to participants now.
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Be between 18 and 40 years of age. Be actively playing the violin at least 3 days per week. Have been playing the violin for at least 1 year. Voluntarily agree to participate in the study and provide written .
Exclusion Criteria:
A history of surgery involving the shoulder, neck, or upper extremity. A history of neurological disease, such as peripheral nerve injury or cervical radiculopathy.
A diagnosis of a rheumatological disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis. A history of acute trauma within the previous 6 months. Currently participating regularly in a physiotherapy or rehabilitation program. Having a systemic disease that prevents participation in exercise. Being unable to adhere to the exercise program during the study period.
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.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants in the control group will perform a home-based exercise program consisting of postural correction and flexibility exercises for 6 weeks, three days per week, with each session lasting approximately 30-45 minutes. The program will include scapular retraction, chin tuck, stretching exercises for the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, and pectoralis minor muscles, posterior capsule stretching, pendulum exercises, and shoulder circumduction exercises.
Other: Postural Correction and Flexibility Exercise Program
Participants in the experimental group will perform the same exercise program as the control group, with the addition of scapulothoracic stabilization exercises targeting the serratus anterior, upper, middle, and lower trapezius, rhomboid, and latissimus dorsi muscles. These strengthening exercises will be performed using resistance bands, with 3 sets of 10 repetitions. Exercise intensity will be adjusted according to the participants' perceived level of difficulty. The intervention will be performed for 6 weeks, three days per week, with each session lasting approximately 30-45 minutes.
Other: Postural Correction and Flexibility Exercise Program · Other: Scapulothoracic Stabilization Exercise Program
Participants will perform a home-based exercise program consisting of postural correction and flexibility exercises for 6 weeks, three days per week, with each session lasting approximately 30-45 minutes. The program will include isometric scapular retraction exercises and chin tuck exercises, each performed for 5 seconds and 10 repetitions. Stretching exercises targeting the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, and pectoralis minor muscles, as well as posterior capsule stretching, will be performed for 20-30 seconds and 3 repetitions. Pendulum exercises will be performed for 1-2 minutes, and shoulder circumduction exercises will be performed for 10 repetitions.
Participants will perform the same postural correction and flexibility exercise program as the control group, with the addition of scapulothoracic stabilization strengthening exercises. The exercises will target the serratus anterior, upper, middle, and lower trapezius, rhomboid, and latissimus dorsi muscles. The strengthening exercises will be performed using resistance bands, with 3 sets of 10 repetitions. Exercise intensity will be adjusted according to the participant's perceived level of difficulty. The intervention will be performed for 6 weeks, three days per week, with each session lasting approximately 30-45 minutes, under the supervision of a physiotherapist.
Pain intensity
Pain intensity at rest, during activity, and at night will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), with higher scores indicating greater pain intensity.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Upper extremity functional performance
Upper extremity functional performance will be assessed using the 6-Minute Pegboard Test. The number of pins placed during the test period will be recorded as the performance measure, with higher values indicating better functional performance.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Muscle strength
Muscle strength of the shoulder, neck, elbow, and wrist will be objectively assessed using a Kinvent dynamometer. Shoulder flexion, extension, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation; bilateral neck lateral flexion; elbow flexion and extension; wrist flexion and extension; and handgrip strength will be measured in Newtons.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Scapular dyskinesis
Scapular position will be assessed by measuring the distances between predefined anatomical landmarks, including the T2 spinous process and superior angle of the scapula, the T4 spinous process and midpoint of the medial border of the scapula, and the T7 spinous process and inferior angle of the scapula.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Violin performance
Occupational performance related to violin playing will be assessed using rating scales evaluating technical accuracy and intonation. Higher scores will indicate better performance.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Plan to share: No — Individual participant data will not be shared.
Started Nov 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Jan 2027, 1 month after the start.
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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 ↗
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