Comparing Rotator Cuff Drills and Resistance Band Exercises to Improve Pain and Function in Male Overhead Athletes with Chronic Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to compare two rehabilitation exercises for male overhead athletes aged 17 to 35 with chronic rotator cuff tendinopathy, a condition causing pain and impaired shoulder function. The study evaluates whether rotator cuff drills or progressive resistance exercises better improve pain, stability, and functional performance. It addresses gaps in evidence for sport-specific rehab in overhead athletes and uses a randomized, single-blinded design to ensure unbiased results. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups Group A performs rotator cuff drills such as plyometric medicine ball throws and wall dribbles, while Group B completes progressive resistance exercises using resistance bands with increasing load. Both groups follow a 12-week program with three exercise sessions per week, each preceded by a standardized 20-minute warm-up, following the FIIT principle Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type. Throughout the study, participants undergo assessments at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks using tools like the Numeric Pain Rating Scale NPRS for pain, the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test CKCUEST for stability, and the Upper Limb Rotation Test ULRT for function. Data are analyzed statistically to compare changes within and between groups. The study includes careful monitoring and aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for managing rotator cuff tendinopathy in overhead athletes.

Effects of Rotator Cuff Drills Versus Progressive Resistance Exercises on Chronic Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy