Theresa Holmgren

Effect of specific exercise strategy on need for surgery in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome: randomised controlled study

Objective To evaluate if a specific exercise strategy, targeting the rotator cuff and scapula stabilisers, improves shoulder function and pain more than unspecific exercises in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome, thereby decreasing the need for arthroscopic subacromial decompression. Design Randomised, participant and single assessor blinded, controlled study. Setting Department of orthopaedics in a Swedish university hospital. Participants 102 patients with long standing (over six months) persistent subacromial impingement syndrome in whom earlier conservative treatment had failed, recruited through orthopaedic specialists. Interventions The specific exercise strategy consisted of strengthening eccentric exercises for the rotator cuff and concentric/eccentric exercises for the scapula stabilisers in combination with manual mobilisation. The control exercise programme consisted of unspecific movement exercises for the neck and shoulder. Patients in both groups received five to six individual guided treatment sessions during 12 weeks. In between these supervised sessions the participants performed home exercises once or twice a day for 12 weeks. Main outcome measures The primary outcome was the Constant-Murley shoulder assessment score evaluating shoulder function and pain. Secondary outcomes were patients’ global impression of change because of treatment and decision regarding surgery. Results Most (97, 95%) participants completed the 12 week study. There was a significantly greater improvement in the Constant-Murley score in the specific exercise group than in the control exercise group (24 points (95% confidence interval 19 to 28.0) v 9 points (5 to 13); mean difference between group: 15 points (8.5 to 20.6)). Significantly more patients in the specific exercise group reported successful outcome (defined as large improvement or recovered) in the patients’ global assessment of change because of treatment: 69% (35/51) v 24% (11/46); odds ratio 7.6, 3.1 to 18.9; P<0.001. A significantly lower proportion of patients in the specific exercise group subsequently chose to undergo surgery: 20% (10/51) v 63% (29/46); odds ratio 7.7, 3.1 to 19.4; P<0.001). Conclusion A specific exercise strategy, focusing on strengthening eccentric exercises for the rotator cuff and concentric/eccentric exercises for the scapula stabilisers, is effective in reducing pain and improving shoulder function in patients with persistent subacromial impingement syndrome. By extension, this exercise strategy reduces the need for arthroscopic subacromial decompression within the three month timeframe used in the study. Trial registration Clinical trials NCT01037673

SUPERVISED STRENGTHENING EXERCISES VERSUS HOME-BASED MOVEMENT EXERCISES AFTER ARTHROSCOPIC ACROMIOPLASTY: A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

OBJECTIVE To evaluate and compare the efficacy of 2 rehabilitation strategies after arthroscopic acromioplasty: supervised physical therapy focusing on strengthening exercises of the rotator cuff and scapula stabilizers (PT-group) vs home-based movement exercises (H-group). DESIGN A randomized, single-blinded, clinically controlled study. PATIENTS Thirty-six patients entered the study. Thirteen in the PT-group and 16 in the H-group fulfilled all the assessments. METHODS For 12 weeks following surgery, patients performed either supervised physical therapy or home exercises. Follow-ups were conducted periodically for 6 months after surgery to evaluate shoulder function, pain (Constant-Murley (CM) and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores), and health-related quality of life. RESULTS The PT-group exhibited significantly greater improvements in CM (p =0.02) and DASH (p=0.05) scores. After treatment, the between-group mean difference in CM scores was 14.2 p (95% confidence interval 2-26). At the 6-month follow-up, the between-group mean difference in DASH scores was 13.4 p (95% confidence interval 0.1-23). CONCLUSION PT-supervised rehabilitation with strengthening exercises of the rotator cuff and scapula stabilizers seems to be superior to home exercises focusing on mobility for improving shoulder function after arthroscopic acromioplasty.

Consensus for physiotherapy for shoulder pain

PurposeShoulder pain is a common disorder. Despite growing evidence of the importance of physiotherapy, in particular active exercise therapy, little data is available to guide treatment. The aim of this project was to contribute to the development of an internationally accepted assessment and treatment algorithm for patients with shoulder pain.MethodsNine physiotherapists with expertise in the treatment of shoulder dysfunction met in Sweden 2012 to begin the process of developing a treatment algorithm. A questionnaire was completed prior to the meeting to guide discussions. Virtual conferences were thereafter the platform to reach consensus.ResultsConsensus was achieved on a clinical reasoning algorithm to guide the assessment and treatment for patients presenting with local shoulder pain, without significant passive range of motion deficits and no symptoms or signs of instability. The algorithm emphasises that physiotherapy treatment decisions should be based on physical assessment findings and not structural pathology, that active exercises should be the primary treatment approach, and that regular re-assessment is performed to ensure that all clinical features contributing to the presenting shoulder pain are addressed. Consensus was also achieved on a set of guiding principles for implementing exercise therapy for shoulder pain, namely, a limited number of exercises, performed with appropriate scapulo-humeral coordination and humeral head alignment, in a graduated manner without provoking the presenting shoulder pain.ConclusionThe assessment and treatment algorithm presented could contribute to a more formal, extensive process aimed at achieving international agreement on an algorithm to guide physiotherapy treatment for shoulder pain.

A specific exercise strategy reduced the need for surgery in subacromial pain patients

Background and purpose A programme based on eccentric exercises for treating subacromial pain was in a previous study found effective at 3-month follow-up. The purposes of the present study were to investigate whether the results were maintained after 1 year and whether the baseline Constant-Murley score, rotator cuff status and radiological findings influenced the outcome. Patients and methods 97 patients on the waiting list for arthroscopic subacromial decompression had been randomised to a specific exercise programme or unspecific exercises (controls). After 3 months of exercises, the patients were asked whether they still wanted surgery and this option was available until a 1-year follow-up. 1 year after inclusion or 1 year after surgery, the number of patients who decided to have surgery in each group was compared. The choice of surgery was related to the baseline Constant-Murley score, ultrasound and radiographs taken at inclusion. Results All patients had improved significantly (p<0.0001) in the Constant-Murley score at the 1-year follow-up. Significantly more patients in the control group decided to have surgery (63%) than those in the specific exercise group (24%; p<0.0001). Patients who decided to have surgery had a significantly lower baseline Constant-Murley score and more often a full-thickness tear. Patients with partial tears did not differ from those with intact tendons. Interpretation The positive short-term results of specific exercises were maintained after 1 year, and this exercise strategy reduces the need for surgery. Full-thickness tear and a low baseline Constant-Murley score appear to be a predictive marker for a less good outcome. Trial registration number Clinical trials NCT01037673.

Minimal important changes in the Constant-Murley score in patients with subacromial pain

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the minimal important change (MIC) of improvement in the Constant-Murley score in patients with long-standing subacromial pain and in subgroups of patients with subacromial pain with and without rotator cuff ruptures. METHOD The MIC was estimated by the anchor-based MIC distribution method, which integrates an anchor- and distribution-based approach: the optimal cutoff point of the receiver operating characteristic curve (MICROC) and the 95% limit cutoff point (MIC95% limit). The study population consisted of 93 patients included in a randomized clinical trial evaluating the effect of a specific exercise strategy. RESULTS The MICROC was found at a mean change of 17 points in the Constant-Murley score, which corresponds to a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 79%. The MIC95% limit was found at a mean change of 24 points. In the subgroup analysis, the MICROC was found at a mean change of 19 points and the MIC95% limit at 18 points in patients with an intact rotator cuff. In patients with rotator cuff ruptures, the MICROC was found at a mean change of 15 points and the MIC95% limit at 30 points. CONCLUSION The Constant-Murley score is able to detect the MIC in individual patients with long-standing subacromial pain when the rotator cuff is intact. The estimated MIC values could be used as an indication for relevant changes in the Constant-Murley score in clinical practice and guide the clinician in how to interpret the results of specific treatments.

Republished research: Effect of specific exercise strategy on need for surgery in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome: randomised controlled study

▸ This article is an abridged version of a paper that was published on bmj.com. Cite this article as: BMJ 2012; 344 :e787 ### Study question Can a specific exercise strategy improve shoulder function and pain in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome, thereby decreasing the need for arthroscopic subacromial decompression? ### Summary answer Compared with a control exercise group, patients in the specific exercise group had significantly greater improvements in shoulder function and pain and fewer patients needed surgery at the three month assessment. ### What is known and what this paper adds Different exercise programmes are used as first line treatment in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome, but conclusive evidence to support the efficacy for these programmes is lacking. This …

Specific exercises for subacromial pain: Good results maintained for 5 years

Background and purpose — We have previously shown that specific exercises reduced the need for surgery in subacromial pain patients at 1-year follow-up. We have now investigated whether this result was maintained after 5 years and compared the outcomes of surgery and non-surgical treatment. Patients and methods — 97 patients were included in the previously reported randomized study of patients on a waiting list for surgery. These patients were randomized to specific or unspecific exercises. After 3 months of exercises the patients were asked if they still wanted surgery and this was also assessed at the present 5-year follow-up. The 1-year assessment included Constant–Murley score, DASH, VAS at night, rest and activity, EQ-5D, and EQ-VAS. All these outcome assessments were repeated after 5 years in 91 of the patients. Results — At the 5-year follow-up more patients in the specific exercise group had declined surgery, 33 of 47 as compared with 16 of 44 (p = 0.001) in the unspecific exercise group. The mean Constant–Murley score continued to improve between the 1- and 5-year follow-ups in both surgically and non-surgically treated groups. On a group level there was no clinically relevant change between 1 and 5 years in any of the other outcome measures regardless of treatment. Interpretation — This 5-year follow-up of a previously published randomized controlled trial found that specific exercises reduced the need for surgery in patients with subacromial pain. Patients not responding to specific exercises may achieve similar good results with surgery. These findings emphasize that a specific exercise program may serve as a selection tool for surgery.

A short activity-related scale for measuring shoulder function in patients with subacromial pain: the DASH 7

Background Subacromial pain is a common cause of shoulder dysfunction that negatively affects quality of life. Currently, most outcome measures for shoulder pain are applied to a heterogeneous group of patients. Of these measures, the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) is the most widely recognized test with which to assess patients with subacromial pain. The primary aim of this study was to assess the content validity of DASH for patients with subacromial pain, with a secondary aim to test responsiveness to a modified set of DASH items tailored to these patients. Methods There were 129 patients who reported activities in the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS). To assess validity, 5 independent physiotherapists matched PSFS activities to the most appropriate DASH item. DASH items identified as being of greatest importance to patients were those corresponding to the highest number of PSFS-matched activities. Calculations were made for responsiveness and internal consistency. Results Physiotherapists matched DASH items to 271 PSFS activities, reaching agreement for almost 80%. Seven DASH items (DASH 7) were identified as being particularly important. Effect size data (Cohens d) were 0.93 for DASH 7, 0.92 for DASH 30, and 0.85 for QuickDASH; the corresponding Cronbachs α values (for DASH 7, DASH 30, and QuickDASH) were 0.84, 0.94, and 0.86, respectively. Conclusions DASH 7 is a short, patient-centered, and activity-related scale that can measure shoulder function in patients with subacromial pain using a quarter of the original DASH items. DASH 7 demonstrated responsiveness, with a satisfactory level of internal consistency.