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Neurocognitive Loading Following Anterior Shoulder Stabilization: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Sponsor: Hacettepe University
Summary
The goal of this randomized controlled clinical trial is to learn if adding neurocognitive loading to standard shoulder rehabilitation improves physical and psychological recovery in adults who have undergone arthroscopic anterior shoulder stabilization surgery (such as Bankart repair, Latarjet, or remplissage procedures). The main questions it aims to answer are: Does adding neurocognitive loading exercises improve shoulder proprioception, muscle strength, and functional performance compared to standard therapy alone? Does this integrated training approach reduce the kinesiophobia? Does it lead to better overall clinical outcomes and improve psychological readiness to return to sports? Researchers will compare a group receiving standard shoulder exercises combined with dual-task neurocognitive loading (using light-based reaction systems and cognitive tasks) to a control group receiving standard shoulder rehabilitation alone. Participants will:Undergo supervised physical therapy sessions starting 10 days after surgery up to the 16th postoperative week (twice a week for the first 12 weeks, and once a week for weeks 13-16) alongside an assigned home exercise program. Complete neurocognitive loading tasks (if assigned to the intervention group) that challenge attention, quick decision-making, and visual reactions while executing physical movements. Attend detailed clinical evaluation sessions lasting about 60 minutes before the treatment starts, and at 6, 12, and 24 weeks after surgery. These assessments include neurocognitive, functional and clinical tests, and questionnaires.
Official title: Effects of Neurocognitive Loading on Neuromuscular Control, Kinesiophobia, and Clinical Outcomes Following Anterior Shoulder Stabilization Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 45 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
32
Start Date
2026-07-01
Completion Date
2029-07-01
Last Updated
2026-06-08
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Standard Rehabilitation
A structured, multi-stage physical exercise protocol adhering to modern clinical guidance for traumatic upper-extremity instability repairs. The protocol spans from postoperative day 10 through the 16th week, comprising supervised clinic sessions (twice weekly for weeks 1-12; once weekly for weeks 13-16) and a 4-day-a-week home routine. The physical program is identically matched for both groups and progresses through standard clinical healing benchmarks: Initial Phase (Days 10-14): Early Mobility \& Activation (Weeks 3-6) Dynamic Control \& Resistance (Weeks 7-12) Advanced Neuromuscular Function (Weeks 13-16) All exercises are limited strictly by the patient's pain boundary (maintaining a Visual Analog Scale score of 3/10). Neurocognitive training group also administers an incremental neurocognitive workload spanning 5 distinct tiers over the rehabilitation timeline.
Neurocognitive Loading
A wireless, multi-pod reaction light system used to deliver visual-reactive and cognitive stimuli concurrently during shoulder stabilization exercises. While maintaining physical training, patients must use their uninjured limb to tap out specific light prompts according to rules programmed into the system. The system administers an incremental cognitive workload spanning 5 distinct tiers over the rehabilitation timeline: Weeks 3-4: Random single-light triggers to challenge selective attention and basic orientation. Weeks 5-6: Multi-color random triggers requiring response inhibition (hitting target colors while ignoring distractor stimuli). Weeks 7-8: Color-position matching rules requiring spatial-visual processing. Weeks 9-12: Sequential working memory strings and Go/No-Go rules. Weeks 13-16: Multi-layered hiearchical decision conflicts (such as color targets overriding spatial constraints).