Effects of Dry Needling in Athletes With Subacromial Pain Syndrome

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

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.

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.

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.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Shoulder Proprioception Assessed With the Joint Position Sense Test — Baseline, 10 days after the first intervention session, and 10 days after the second intervention session
  Shoulder proprioception will be evaluated using the Joint Position Sense (JPS) test. Participants will actively reproduce a predefined shoulder position (abduction at 60°), and the absolute angular repositioning error in degrees will be recorded using an inclinometer. Scores range from 0 degrees (perfect repositioning) to no defined upper limit, with lower values indicating better proprioceptive accuracy.

Trial sites (1)

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