NCT06763796

Postural Decoding for Post-Stroke Shoulder Pain: A RCT.

Active, enrolled NA Last updated 3 October 2025

What this trial tests

NA trial testing Postural Decryption Technique in Stroke; Sequelae in 48 participants. Participants enrolled and being followed up; not accepting new ones.

Timeline

1 December 2024

Primary endpoint
1 June 2026

1 June 2027

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	Shenzhen Baoan District Fuyong People's Hospital
Phase	NA
Status	Active, enrolled
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	randomized
Design	parallel
Masking	single
Primary purpose	treatment
Enrollment	48
Start date	1 December 2024
Primary completion	1 June 2026
Estimated completion	1 June 2027
Sites	1 location across China

Drugs / interventions tested

• Postural Decryption Technique
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Massage Therapy

Conditions studied

• Stroke; Sequelae — all drugs for Stroke; Sequelae →

Sponsor

Shenzhen Baoan District Fuyong People's Hospital

Who can join

18 and older, any sex, with Stroke; Sequelae. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

Brief Summary

Purpose of the Study:

This clinical trial aims to determine whether Postural Decryption Technique can effectively treat hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP) in patients recovering from stroke. It also seeks to assess the safety of this technique. The study will compare the effectiveness of the Postural Decryption Technique with traditional massage therapy to find out which method provides better pain relief and improves shoulder function.

Key Research Questions:

1. Can the Postural Decryption Technique reduce shoulder pain and improve range of motion in HSP patients?
2. Is the Postural Decryption Technique more effective than traditional massage therapy?
3. Is the Postural Decryption Technique safe, and are there any side effects or discomfort during treatment?

Study Design:
4. Researchers will recruit 48 participants with HSP and randomly divide them into two groups:

Treatment Group: Participants will receive therapy using the Postural Decryption Technique.

Control Group: Participants will undergo traditional massage therapy.

What Participants Will Do:

Receive treatment 5 times per week, 40 minutes per session, for 4 weeks. Undergo evaluations before treatment, 2 weeks after treatment begins, and at the end of 4 weeks to measure pain relief and shoulder function improvement.

Undergo musculoskeletal ultrasound to assess changes in soft tissue and joint structure.

Evaluation Methods:

1. Pain Assessment: Pain levels will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
2. Range of Motion (ROM): Tools will be used to measure the angles of shoulder movement.
3. Postural Assessment: The position of the scapula and spine will be measured to evaluate postural alignment improvements.
4. Daily Activity Ability: Progress in daily tasks will be recorded using the Barthel Index questionnaire.

Significance of the Study:

This study aims to validate whether the Postural Decryption Technique is a more effective and safer treatment for HSP compared to traditional massage therapy. If proven effective, it could offer a new rehabilitation approach to reduce pain, restore function, and improve the quality of life for stroke survivors.

Safety Monitoring:

Researchers will closely monitor participants for any signs of discomfort or adverse effects during the treatment process. Participants are free to withdraw from the study at any time if they experience any issues.

Conclusion:

The ultimate goal of this study is to identify a better treatment option for HSP in stroke patients. The results are expected to support the application of the Postural Decryption Technique as a safe and effective rehabilitation method for broader clinical use.

Publications & conference data

1 peer-reviewed publication reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. Discovery of Posture Secret manual therapy for post-stroke shoulder pain: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
   Song C, Lei B, Li Z, Li H, et al · · 2025 · PMID 41018195 · DOI 10.3389/fneur.2025.1594560