Vibration Therapy and IASTM in Subacromial Impingement Syndrome

Summary

This randomized controlled clinical study aims to investigate the effects of vibration therapy and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), when added to conventional physiotherapy, on pain, range of motion, proprioception, functional status, and quality of life in individuals diagnosed with subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS). SAIS is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain and is frequently associated with impaired scapular kinematics, rotator cuff dysfunction, soft tissue tightness, and decreased shoulder mobility.

A total of 48 participants aged 40-60 years with MRI-confirmed SAIS will be randomly assigned into three groups: (1) Vibration Therapy + Conventional Physiotherapy, (2) IASTM + Conventional Physiotherapy, and (3) Conventional Physiotherapy (Control). All interventions will be administered three times per week for four weeks. Outcomes include pain intensity (VAS), shoulder range of motion (Goniometer Pro app), proprioception at 60° of flexion and abduction, functional status (DASH), and quality of life (RC-QoL).

The study aims to determine whether adding vibration therapy or IASTM to standard physiotherapy provides additional short-term benefits in reducing pain, improving joint mobility, enhancing proprioceptive acuity, and increasing functional capacity in individuals with subacromial impingement syndrome.

Conditions

• Impingement Syndrome
• Impingement Shoulder
• Shoulder Pain

Interventions

OTHER

Conventional physiotherapy

Conventional physiotherapy consisting of 8 minutes of therapeutic ultrasound, 30 minutes of TENS, 15 minutes of cryotherapy, and a supervised exercise program including passive stretching, Codman pendulum exercises, wand exercises, finger ladder exercises, and progressive strengthening. The program is delivered three times per week for four weeks.

DEVICE

Percussion massage therapy device

Vibration therapy was applied using a handheld percussion massage gun (Compex Fixx 2.0) delivering vibration at 33 Hz with a soft-head attachment. The device was moved longitudinally along the deltoid and rotator cuff muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor) in a proximal-to-distal direction. Each muscle was treated for approximately 3 minutes per session. The intervention was delivered three times per week for four weeks.

DEVICE

Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization device

Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization was performed using specially designed stainless-steel tools applied at a 45-degree angle to the anterior and posterior shoulder muscles. Sweep and brush techniques were used, consisting of approximately 20 seconds of parallel strokes and 20 seconds of perpendicular strokes per muscle group. The intervention was administered three times per week for four weeks following the conventional physiotherapy session.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Emre DANSUK

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Emre Dansuk, PhD · Medipol University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

40 Years

Max Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-12-10

Primary Completion

2026-02-01

Completion

2026-02-15

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations