BFRT for Subacromial Pain

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · Mar 11, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a treatment called blood flow restriction training (BFRT) for people who have shoulder pain, specifically pain in the front and side of the shoulder. The researchers want to find out if this training is safe and if it can help improve shoulder strength and function. They will compare the actual blood flow restriction training to a sham treatment, which is a similar but inactive procedure, to see how well it works and what challenges participants might face during the training.

To participate, individuals should be between 18 and 50 years old and have pain in one shoulder that limits their function. They will need to visit the clinic for physical therapy sessions and exercises for up to 8 weeks, with additional follow-up visits to assess their progress. It's important to note that those with certain medical conditions, previous shoulder surgeries, or specific health issues may not be eligible for this trial. Overall, this study aims to explore a new way to help people recover from shoulder pain and improve their quality of life.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • Inclusion criteria
• • Between 18 and 50 years of age
• • Unilateral pain in the anterolateral shoulder
• • Self-reported shoulder function of ≤7 (10, full function)
• • At least 90° of active shoulder elevation
• • 3 out of 5 positive tests to define subacromial pain.
• Exclusion Criteria (general):
• • history of shoulder fracture, frozen shoulder, or shoulder surgery
• • history of cardiovascular, neurologic, and pulmonary conditions that would impair the subject's ability to participate in physical therapy
• • active treatment for cancer
• • uncontrolled diabetes
• • uncontrolled high blood pressure
• • corticosteroid injection at the shoulder within 6 weeks
• • imaging evidence of rotator cuff tears
• • pregnancy
• • Exclusion criteria (Blood flow restriction training specific)
• • contraindications to BFRT (sickle cell anemia, deep vein thrombosis, peripheral circulatory diseases)
• • taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs