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Effects of Dry Needling in Athletes With Subacromial Pain Syndrome

NCT07621016 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 40

Last updated 2026-06-05

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether dry needling combined with therapeutic exercise improves shoulder proprioception in amateur athletes with subacromial pain syndrome. The study will also assess its effects on dynamic stability, strength, pain, and functional disability.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

Does dry needling improve shoulder proprioception compared with therapeutic exercise alone? Does dry needling improve dynamic shoulder stability and muscle strength? Does dry needling reduce pain and upper limb disability?

Researchers will compare a group receiving dry needling plus therapeutic exercise with a group performing therapeutic exercise alone to determine whether the combined intervention produces better outcomes.

Participants will:

Be randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups. Perform a home-based therapeutic exercise program for 3 weeks. Complete assessments of proprioception, dynamic stability, strength, pain, and functional disability before and after the intervention.

Conditions

  • Subacromial Pain Syndrome

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Dry needling

Dry needling will be applied to active myofascial trigger points identified in scapulohumeral muscles commonly associated with subacromial pain syndrome, including supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, teres minor, teres major, and anterior and middle deltoid muscles. Trigger points will be identified through standardized clinical examination. The intervention will be performed by an experienced physiotherapist using sterile disposable needles and a standardized fast in-fast out technique. Participants will receive two dry needling sessions separated by a 10-day interval.

BEHAVIORAL

Therapeutic Exercise

Participants will perform a structured home-based therapeutic exercise program focused on shoulder strengthening, neuromuscular control, and sensorimotor function using elastic resistance bands. The exercise program will be performed three times per week for 3 weeks following a standardized protocol. Participants will receive individualized instruction, exercise materials, and adherence monitoring throughout the intervention period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Universidad Europea de Valencia

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Carlos A Villaron Casales, PT, MSc, PhD · Universidad Europea de Valencia

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
40 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-06-30
Primary Completion
2027-03-31
Completion
2027-03-31

Countries

  • Spain

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07621016 on ClinicalTrials.gov