STOP START RCRSP study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Successive Randomised Controlled Trials involving people with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP) aiming to (a)investigate the relationship between pain-free shoulder abduction and external rotation force and pain and disability and (b) assess the effectiveness of two different forms of exercise treatment
IRAS ID
331819
Contact name
Tim Cook
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Shoulder pain is the third most common type of musculoskeletal (MSK) disorder for which people seek medical care. Roughly 70% of all shoulder pain can be accounted for by one condition, namely rotator ruff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP). Despite limited research it is thought that a lack of pain-free force production of certain shoulder muscles is a key finding in those with RCRSP.
Strengthening exercise appears to be an important treatment for RCRSP. However, there remains uncertainty regarding the optimal choice of exercise. It has been suggested essential to target the rotator cuff muscles. Despite this claim, exercise specific to these muscles has not been compared to exercise that specifically avoids significant rotator cuff recruitment. A clearer understanding could result in more effective treatment, and improved exercise adherence.
Key questions that this research aims to answer are:
1. Is it important to measure pain-free force when treating people with RCRSP?
2. Is it more effective to target the rotator cuff muscles than not when using exercise to treat RCRSP?
To attempt to answer these questions this study will be split into two trials. Patients referred to Sussex Community NHS Foundation trust for treatment of RCRSP will be screened by a Physiotherapist for eligibility and those interested will be asked to give consent to participate. Trial 1 will involve participants attending a one-off 45-minute assessment. Data collection will run over a 6-month period. Participants in Trial 2 will be required to attend a minimum of 10 (or maximum of 12) 45-minute exercise sessions over a 12-16-week period. Trail 2 will last approximately 18 months, with outcomes being recorded when participants finish their exercise sessions and at 6 and 12 months after the date they started the trial. Thus far funding has been secured for Trail 1 via an Applied Research Collaboration individual development award.REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/SW/0139
Date of REC Opinion
18 Jan 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion