Sleeper Stretch for Shoulder Pain

No longer recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Andrew Jagim, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Mayo Clinic

Disqualifiers: Labral lesions, Rotator cuff tears, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

Duration: 8 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether a specific exercise, known as the sleeper stretch, can improve shoulder movement and strength in CrossFit athletes. Researchers aim to determine if this stretch enhances performance and reduces pain compared to a control group that does not use the stretch. Individuals who regularly participate in CrossFit at least twice a week and do not have certain shoulder injuries or recent surgeries may be suitable for this trial. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the chance to contribute to understanding the benefits of the sleeper stretch for athletic performance.

Do I need to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that the sleeper stretch is safe for improving shoulder function in CrossFit athletes?

Research shows that the sleeper stretch is generally safe for improving shoulder flexibility. Studies indicate it can significantly increase shoulder movement without serious side effects. Earlier research highlights its effectiveness in enhancing shoulder function. No specific evidence of harm from this stretch exists, making it a well-tolerated option for athletes seeking to improve shoulder range and strength. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

The Sleeper Stretch is unique because it offers a simple, non-invasive method to address shoulder pain without relying on medication or complex therapies. Most treatments for shoulder pain, like physical therapy or anti-inflammatory drugs, focus on reducing pain and inflammation. However, the Sleeper Stretch specifically targets the tightness and limited range of motion in the shoulder, aiming to improve flexibility and function. Researchers are excited about this approach because it could provide a safe, accessible, and cost-effective option for individuals suffering from shoulder discomfort.

What evidence suggests that the sleeper stretch is effective for improving shoulder range of motion in CrossFit athletes?

Research has shown that sleeper stretches, which participants in this trial may perform, can greatly improve shoulder flexibility. One study found that these stretches noticeably increased flexibility in the back part of the shoulder, helping to reduce shoulder pain and improve movement. Another study suggested that stretching the rotator cuff, especially after warming up, effectively manages shoulder pain. While results can vary, these stretches might benefit those seeking to enhance shoulder movement, particularly active individuals like CrossFit athletes. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Alecia Gende, DO, CAQSM

Principal Investigator

Mayo Clinic

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for active CrossFit participants who work out more than twice a week and are experiencing shoulder pain. It's not suitable for those with labral lesions or rotator cuff tears, history of upper limb or cervical spine surgery, other injuries preventing regular activities, or recent fractures.

Inclusion Criteria

Regularly active (attending CrossFit > 2x per week)

Exclusion Criteria

Positive test for labral lesions or rotator cuff tears

I have had surgery on my upper limbs or neck.

I have no injuries that stop me from working my usual hours.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants perform the sleeper stretch intervention to improve shoulder range of motion, strength, and upper body performance

8 weeks

Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Sleeper Stretch

Trial Overview The study is testing the effectiveness of the sleeper stretch versus standard workouts in improving shoulder flexibility, strength, and overall upper body performance among CrossFit athletes.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Sleeper Stretch Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Control Group Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Mayo Clinic

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,427

Recruited

3,221,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 70 patients with subacromial pain syndrome, both posterior shoulder stretching exercises with rapid eccentric contraction and static stretching were found to be more effective than no stretching in improving shoulder mobility, pain, and function.

While rapid eccentric contraction did not show superiority over static stretching overall, it specifically improved external rotation range of motion compared to the control group, suggesting it may be beneficial for addressing certain mobility deficiencies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Novel Posterior Shoulder Stretching With Rapid Eccentric Contraction and Static Stretching in Patients With Subacromial Pain Syndrome: A Randomized Trial. Türksan, HE., Yeşilyaprak, SS., Erduran, M., et al.[2023]

The natural recovery time for glenohumeral internal rotation (IR) loss after a throwing episode in high school baseball pitchers is approximately 4 days, based on a study of 17 participants.

Incorporating a sleeper stretch protocol can significantly accelerate recovery, reducing the time needed for IR recovery to just 2 days, which may help prevent cumulative effects over the season.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sleeper stretch accelerates recovery of glenohumeral internal rotation after pitching. Reuther, KE., Larsen, R., Kuhn, PD., et al.[2022]

Kinesio taping (KT) and sleeper stretching (SS) both significantly improve shoulder rotation range of motion (ROM) in pitchers with glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD), based on a study involving 31 participants.

While KT enhances shoulder external rotator strength, SS actually decreases it, indicating that while both methods improve ROM, they have different effects on muscle strength.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of the Acute Effects of Kinesio Taping and Sleeper Stretching on the Shoulder Rotation Range of Motion, Manual Muscle Strength, and Sub-Acromial Space in Pitchers with Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit. Lo, CL., Hsueh, YH., Wang, CH., et al.[2021]

The cross-body and sleeper stretches are popular techniques for improving flexibility in the posterior shoulder and increasing range of motion for overhead athletes, but they may have limitations in stabilizing the shoulder joint.

The authors suggest modifications to these stretches to enhance their effectiveness and reduce the risk of injury, such as subacromial impingement, while still aiming to maintain or improve shoulder flexibility and internal rotation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The modified sleeper stretch and modified cross-body stretch to increase shoulder internal rotation range of motion in the overhead throwing athlete. Wilk, KE., Hooks, TR., Macrina, LC.[2022]

Both the modified cross-body stretch (MCS) and modified sleeper stretch (MSS) significantly improved shoulder internal rotation and horizontal adduction range of motion in 24 college baseball players over a 4-week period.

The MCS specifically reduced muscle stiffness in the teres minor, while the MSS reduced stiffness in the infraspinatus, indicating that both stretching methods effectively target different muscles in the shoulder.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of two stretching methods on shoulder range of motion and muscle stiffness in baseball players with posterior shoulder tightness: a randomized controlled trial. Yamauchi, T., Hasegawa, S., Nakamura, M., et al.[2022]

Both the modified sleeper stretch (MSS) and modified cross-body stretch (MCBS) significantly improved internal rotation range of motion (ROM) and upper limb functions in 30 male tennis players over 4 weeks, with DASH scores decreasing by 85% and 79.6% respectively.

There were no significant differences in the effectiveness of MSS and MCBS, indicating that either stretching technique can be beneficial for addressing shoulder issues in tennis players.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of modified sleeper stretch and modified cross-body stretch on upper limb functions and shoulder ROM in tennis players: a randomized trial. D, A., Sudhan M, A., Chandran, S., et al.[2023]

A new stretching technique called Passive Glenohumeral Internal Rotation with Clam Shell Bridging was compared to the traditional modified sleeper stretch in 42 overhead athletes with glenohumeral internal rotation deficits (GIRD), showing both techniques improved internal rotation range of motion (ROM) significantly over time.

The novel stretching technique resulted in a significant reduction in shoulder pain intensity, making it potentially more suitable for symptomatic patients compared to the modified sleeper stretch, which did not show a significant change in pain.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of a novel stretching technique on shoulder range of motion in overhead athletes with glenohumeral internal rotation deficits: a randomized controlled trial. Gharisia, O., Lohman, E., Daher, N., et al.[2021]

In a study involving 212 collegiate overhead athletes, both the prone cross-body adduction (superman stretch) and the sleeper stretch significantly improved shoulder range of motion (ROM).

The superman stretch specifically showed superior effectiveness in enhancing horizontal adduction compared to the sleeper stretch, suggesting it may be a better option for immediate ROM improvements.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effects of Sleeper and Superman Stretches on Time-Zero Shoulder Range of Motion in Collegiate Athletes. Tawfik, A., Toci, GR., Sirch, F., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2474815/

The Acute Effects of Sleeper Stretches on Shoulder Range ... Based on our results, the sleeper stretches produced a statistically significant acute increase in posterior shoulder flexibility.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10844772/

Comparative Analysis of Various Rotator Cuff Stretching ... Rotator cuff stretching with a warm-up is an effective exercise to reduce and manage shoulder pain.

3. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/23138528_The_Acute_Effects_of_Sleeper_Stretches_on_Shoulder_Range_of_Motion

The Acute Effects of Sleeper Stretches on Shoulder Range ... Based on our results, the sleeper stretches produced a statistically significant acute increase in posterior shoulder flexibility. However, ...

4. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/16/7166

Is Stretching Effective for Reducing Glenohumeral Internal ... A very low certainty of evidence suggests that stretching produces statistically significant changes for improving ROM in patients with glenohumeral internal ...

5. ijspt.scholasticahq.com ijspt.scholasticahq.com/article/34439-effectiveness-of-scapular-stabilization-versus-non-stabilization-stretching-on-shoulder-range-of-motion-a-randomized-clinical-trial

Effectiveness of Scapular Stabilization Versus Non ... Stabilized scapular stretching was more effective than non-stabilized stretching at gaining shoulder mobility in patients with shoulder pain.

6. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41598-023-35977-w

Effects of modified sleeper stretch and modified cross-body ... The study aimed to compare the efficacy of modified sleeper and cross-body adduction stretch in improving shoulder IR ROM and upper limb functions in tennis ...

7. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05064033

Pragmatic Posterior Capsular Stretch Versus Sleeper ... Pragmatic Posterior capsular stretch can effectively improve the functional movements and shoulder ROM of healthy young adults.16 Another popular stretch is the ...

8. cureus.com cureus.com/articles/408587-cross-body-versus-combined-sleeper-stretch-for-posterior-shoulder-tightness-a-randomized-controlled-trial

Cross-Body Versus Combined Sleeper Stretch for Posterior ... We hypothesized that a combined regimen of cross-body and sleeper stretching would yield greater improvements in shoulder IR, HA, and total ...

9. traumamon.com traumamon.com/article_212038_d7df38dc010df9ccd1e1657166d4dc3c.pdf

article_212038_d7df38dc010df9... Conclusion: These findings indicate the superior effectiveness of posterior shoulder stretching exercises in enhancing shoulder function and ...