Acute Effects of Percussive Therapy on the Posterior Shoulder Muscles Differ Based on the Athlete's Soreness Response.

The study included only healthy, recreationally active volunteers, so the results may not apply to injured patients or competitive athletes. Group assignment was based on a self-reported Likert scale of soreness, which is subject to reporter bias. The observed differences in range of motion and strength were small and did not exceed measurement error, making their clinical relevance unclear. This was a cross-sectional comparison of acute effects, so it does not demonstrate long-term outcomes or efficacy for treatment. One author received the device from the manufacturer and worked for them shortly after the study, although the manufacturer was not involved in the study's conduct.

Jack Trainer received the percussion therapy device from TT Therapeutics to perform the study and was hired by TT Therapeutics shortly after the study's completion. The authors state that TT Therapeutics was not involved in data collection, analysis, interpretation, writing, or approval of the study.

Do not interpret the statistically significant differences in internal rotation range and strength as evidence that percussive therapy causes clinically meaningful changes. The authors state that the numerical values did not exceed measurement error, and the study only compared two groups based on a subjective soreness response rather than testing the therapy against a control.