CompletedPhase 1/2

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation vs Conventional Therapy With Ultrasound-Guided Corticosteroid Injections for Subacromial Bursitis

Italy60 participantsStarted 2025-01-01

Plain-language summary

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a combined treatment approach for people with chronic shoulder pain caused by subacromial bursitis. Subacromial bursitis is a common condition that can cause pain, stiffness, and reduced ability to move the shoulder. These symptoms often interfere with daily activities such as dressing, lifting objects, or reaching overhead, and may negatively affect quality of life. In current clinical practice, corticosteroid injections are frequently used to reduce inflammation and relieve pain, especially in patients with persistent symptoms. Physiotherapy is also an essential part of treatment, helping to restore movement, strength, and function. However, it is not yet clear which type of rehabilitation program provides the best results when combined with injections. In this study, all participants receive three ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injections administered once per week. Ultrasound guidance allows the physician to accurately deliver the medication into the affected area, improving safety and precision. After the injections, participants are randomly assigned to one of two rehabilitation programs. One group performs a program based on Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF), a technique that uses specific movement patterns to improve muscle coordination, flexibility, and strength. The other group receives conventional physiotherapy, including standard exercises aimed at improving shoulder mobility and function. Participants are evaluated over time to assess changes in pain, daily function, quality of life, and shoulder movement, with follow-up lasting up to six months. The purpose of this study is to determine whether one rehabilitation approach is more effective than the other when combined with corticosteroid injections. The study aims to answer the following question: Does a rehabilitation program based on Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF), combined with ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injections, lead to better improvements in pain, function, quality of life, and shoulder mobility compared to conventional physiotherapy in patients with subacromial bursitis?

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged ≥ 18 years * Diagnosis of chronic shoulder pain (duration ≥ 3 months) * Pain intensity ≥ 4 on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) * Body Mass Index (BMI) \< 30 kg/m² * Ability to understand and provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Severe cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination \< 24) or inability to provide informed consent * Severe cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases * History of neurological or psychiatric disorders * Active oncological disease * Rheumatoid arthritis * Previous shoulder arthroplasty * Severe osteoporosis * Use of oral analgesics, intra-articular injections, physiotherapy, or physical therapies within 15 days prior to enrollment;

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Pain intensity measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)

Timeframe: Baseline, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07508969

SponsorUniversity of Catanzaro

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-03-01

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Subacromial Bursitis of the Shoulder trials