Focal vibration therapy for shoulder pain after stroke
Tests focal vibration added to rehabilitation in adults with long-term post-stroke shoulder pain.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Focal Vibration Therapy in Post-stroke Shoulder Pain
Key facts
- Where
- Foggia, ItalySee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 80 years old?
Source: NCT07513753, who can take part
Where in Italy
- Università degli Studi di FoggiaFoggia, ItalyNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- University of Foggia
- Trial code
- NCT07513753
- Record updated
- 7 April 2026
- Original description
Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain (HSP) is a common and disabling complication after stroke, negatively affecting upper limb function, participation in rehabilitation, and quality of life. Despite the widespread use of conservative and physical therapies, evidence supporting the efficacy of specific non-invasive neuromodulation techniques remains limited.Read full original descriptionShow less
Efficacy of Focal Vibrational Therapy in Reducing Post-stroke Shoulder Pain: a Double-blind, Randomized Controlled Trial
Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain (HSP) is a common and disabling complication after stroke, negatively affecting upper limb function, participation in rehabilitation, and quality of life. Despite the widespread use of conservative and physical therapies, evidence supporting the efficacy of specific non-invasive neuromodulation techniques remains limited.
Focal Vibration Therapy (FVT) is a non-invasive physical modality that delivers localized mechanical vibration to targeted muscles or tendons and may modulate pain, muscle tone, and proprioception through frequency-dependent mechanisms.
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of a multimodal FVT protocol, in addition to standard rehabilitation, compared with a sham intervention plus standard rehabilitation, in reducing pain in patients with chronic post-stroke Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain.
Inclusion: Age ≥ 18 years; Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke confirmed by CT or MRI; Chronic post-stroke phase (≥ 6 months from event); Presence of hemiplegic shoulder pain (NRS ≥ 4); Preserved cognitive function sufficient to provide informed consent.
Exclusion: Pre-existing shoulder pathology of the affected side unrelated to stroke (e.g., full-thickness rotator cuff tear, advanced glenohumeral osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, prior shoulder surgery); Botulinum toxin injections to shoulder upper limb muscles within the last 3-4 months prior to enrollment ; Current treatment with other experimental or non-conventional physical therapies for shoulder pain during the study period; Severe cognitive impairment or language deficits (e.g., severe aphasia) that prevent understanding of study procedures or reliable reporting of pain (e.g., inability to complete NRS or questionnaires); Severe neglect, apraxia, or disorders of consciousness that interfere with participation in rehabilitation or outcome assessments; Fixed shoulder contractures or severe joint deformities limiting passive range of motion and preventing standardized assessment.