Effect of Eight Weeks of Shoulder Injury Prevention Exercises on the Range of Motion and Performance of Adolescent Swimmers
Design
This is a Phase 0, simple randomized clinical trial involving 32 swimmers, comprising an intervention group and a control group without blinding; the Excel `rand` function was used for randomization.
Settings and conduct
This study is being conducted at the Fajr Pool of Shahid Beheshti University with 32 adolescent swimmers aged 10 to 15. The intervention consists of an eight-week shoulder injury prevention program (three 20-minute sessions per week) incorporated into the warm-up routine. Range of motion will be assessed using a goniometer, and upper-limb function will be evaluated via a closed-kinetic-chain functional test.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: At least three regular training sessions per week; no history of spinal or upper-limb surgery; three years of swimming experience.
Exclusion criteria: Age outside the specified range; presence of limb injuries.
Intervention groups
The shoulder injury prevention exercises were developed by the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center specifically to prevent shoulder injuries. The exercise group will perform this protocol as a dry-land warm-up—consisting of three 20-minute sessions per week—over a period of eight weeks. The control group will not receive the intervention and will continue with their regular training routine.
Main outcome variables
The primary outcomes include the range of motion for internal and external rotation of the shoulder joint, upper limb functional status, and the incidence rate of sports injuries.
General information
Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT20240306061185N8
Registration date:2026-07-04, 1405/04/13
Registration timing:prospective
Last update:2026-07-04, 1405/04/13
Update count:0
Registration date
2026-07-04, 1405/04/13
Registrant information
Name
Hossein Rezaei
Name of organization / entity
The University of Shahid Beheshti
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 24 3562 3177
Email address
hosse.rezaei@mail.sbu.ac.ir
Recruitment status
Recruitment complete
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-07-11, 1405/04/20
Expected recruitment end date
2026-07-18, 1405/04/27
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
The Effect of a Shoulder Injury Prevention Program on Glenohumeral Range of Motion and Upper-Limb Function in Front-Crawl Swimmers
Public title
shoulder injury prevention exercises for swimmers
Purpose
Prevention
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Having three training sessions per week
Age range of 10 to 15 years
No history of spinal or lower extremity issues
Having three years of experience in swimming.
Exclusion criteria:
Age
From 10 years old to 15 years old
Gender
Male
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
No information
Sample size
Target sample size:
32
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
In this study, simple randomization method is used and the randomization unit is "individual". Random sequence is generated in Excel software using RAND function and MOD ROW function is used for grouping. In order to observe allocation concealment, each individual's allocation code is placed in illegible and sealed envelopes after being determined in Excel.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Not blinded
Blinding description
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Shahid Beheshti University Ethics Committee
Street address
Shahid Beheshti University, Shahriari square, Volanjek Town, Tehran
City
Tehran
Province
Tehran
Postal code
1983969411
Approval date
2025-10-11, 1404/07/19
Ethics committee reference number
IR.SBU.REC.1404.184
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
preventing shoulder pain and injury
ICD-10 code
ICD-10 code description
Primary outcomes
1
Description
Range of motion
Timepoint
Before the intervention and eight weeks later
Method of measurement
360-degree goniometer
2
Description
Closed-chain upper extremity functional test
Timepoint
Before the intervention and eight weeks later
Method of measurement
To perform this test, two strips are placed parallel on the ground, spaced 90 centimeters apart. The hands are positioned on the strips in a push-up stance; then, while maintaining balance on one hand, the other hand (the "moving" hand) is lifted from the ground, moved toward the hand providing support, and used to touch the strip beneath that supporting hand. The hand then returns to the initial push-up position, and the movement is repeated with the other hand. The action is performed continuously and alternately for both hands over a period of 15 seconds.
Secondary outcomes
empty
Intervention groups
1
Description
Intervention group: The shoulder injury prevention exercises were developed by the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center. The exercise group will perform this protocol as a dry-land warm-up—consisting of three 20-minute sessions per week—over an eight-week period. A 360-degree goniometer will be used to measure shoulder internal and external rotation range of motion, while a closed-kinetic-chain functional test will be employed to assess performance during both pre-test and post-test evaluations.
Category
Prevention
2
Description
Control group: During the study period, the control group will not receive any intervention and will continue with their routine exercises; additionally, a 360-degree goniometer will be used to measure the range of motion for shoulder internal and external rotation, and a closed-chain functional test will be employed to assess performance in both the pre-test and post-test phases.
Category
Prevention
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Sports Science Laboratory of Shahid Beheshti University
Full name of responsible person
Sirus Sheikhi
Street address
Shahid Beheshti University, Shahriari square, Volanjek Town, Tehran
City
Tehran
Province
Tehran
Postal code
1983969411
Phone
+98 21 2243 1953
Email
hosse.rezaei@mail.sbu.ac.ir
Sponsors / Funding sources
1
Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
The University of Shahid Beheshti
Full name of responsible person
دکتر سید محمد حسینی
Street address
Shahid Beheshti University, Shahriari square, Volanjek Town, Tehran
City
Tehran
Province
Tehran
Postal code
1983969411
Phone
+98 21 2243 1953
Email
moh_hosseini@sbu.ac.ir
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
No
Title of funding source
The University of Shahid Beheshti
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Private
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic
Person responsible for general inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
The University of Shahid Beheshti
Full name of responsible person
Hossein Rezaei
Position
PhD student
Latest degree
Master
Other areas of specialty/work
sport injury and corrective exercises
Street address
No 403., Nawab Safavi Ave., Imam Hossein Square., Sain Qala
City
Sain Qala
Province
Zanjan
Postal code
4574148543
Phone
+98 24 3562 3177
Email
hosse.rezaei@mail.sbu.ac.ir
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
The University of Shahid Beheshti
Full name of responsible person
Hossein Rezaei
Position
PhD student
Latest degree
Master
Other areas of specialty/work
sport injury and corrective exercises
Street address
No 403., Nawab Safavi Ave., Imam Hossein Square., Sain Qala
City
Sain Qala
Province
Zanjan
Postal code
4574148543
Phone
009824356231777
Email
hosse.rezaei@mail.sbu.ac.ir
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Name of organization / entity
The University of Shahid Beheshti
Full name of responsible person
Hossein Rezaei
Position
PhD student
Latest degree
Master
Other areas of specialty/work
sport injury and corrective exercises
Street address
No 403., Nawab Safavi Ave., Imam Hossein Square., Sain Qala
City
Sain Qala
Province
Zanjan
Postal code
4574148543
Phone
+98 24 3562 3177
Email
hosse.rezaei@mail.sbu.ac.ir
Sharing plan
Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Study Protocol
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Analytic Code
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Data Dictionary
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available