Short- and Long-Term Effects of a Scapular-Focused Exercise Protocol for Patients with Shoulder Dysfunctions—A Prospective Cohort

Abstract

Current clinical practice lacks consistent evidence in the management of scapular dyskinesis. This study aims to determine the short- and long-term effects of a scapular-focused exercise protocol facilitated by real-time electromyographic biofeedback (EMGBF) on pain and function, in individuals with rotator cuff related pain syndrome (RCS) and anterior shoulder instability (ASI). One-hundred and eighty-three patients were divided into two groups (n = 117 RCS and n = 66 ASI) and guided through a structured exercise protocol, focusing on scapular dynamic control. Values of pain and function (shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI) questionnaire, complemented by the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) and disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) questionnaire) were assessed at the initial, 4-week, and 2-year follow-up and compared within and between. There were significant differences in pain and function improvement between the initial and 4-week assessments. There were no differences in the values of DASH 1st part and SPADI between the 4-week and 2-year follow-up. There were no differences between groups at the baseline and long-term, except for DASH 1st part and SPADI (p < 0.05). Only 29 patients (15.8%) had a recurrence episode at follow-up. These results provide valuable information on the positive results of the protocol in the short- and long-term.

One-year effectiveness of high-load compared with low-load strengthening exercise on self-reported function in patients with hypermobile shoulders: a secondary analysis from a randomised controlled trial

“…Interestingly, a larger proportion of patients in LIGHT continued shoulder-specific exercises postintervention (difference 19%; 95% CI −1 to 40%). Similar studies have shown the tendency of a greater improvement at short-term follow-up using exercise therapy, which is maintained at long term without further improvements after the end of intervention 17 39–41. Acknowledging the fact that patients with HSD and shoulder symptoms have different clinical profiles (eg, regarding symptoms and coexistent shoulder diagnoses),25 the difference in exercise programmes may be of importance when choosing which exercises the patient should use.…”

Efficacy of five-step shoulder manipulation for rotator cuff-related shoulder pain: protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial

“…Inclusion criteria ✧ Age 40–70 years old; ✧ Pain in the anterolateral acromial area or pain with active shoulder elevation [ 12 ], with symptoms lasting for more than 3 months; ✧ Positive signs in each of the following 4 categories: pain when resisting humeral external rotation or abduction, Jobe test, Hawkins test, Neer test; ✧ VAS score ≥ 40 mm. …”

“…✧ Pain in the anterolateral acromial area or pain with active shoulder elevation [ 12 ], with symptoms lasting for more than 3 months;…”

Special Issue “Wearable and BAN Sensors for Physical Rehabilitation and eHealth Architectures”

“…The results presented were the outcome of a study performed in one hundred and eighty-three patients, from which 171 suffered from RCS and 66 from ASI. The assessment of the shoulder pain and function was performed during the implantation of the structure exercise protocol at its beginning, 4th week and at the 2-year follow up [4]. The authors found a substantial improvement in the 4-week assessment, and not a major difference between the 4th week and the 2nd year follow up, which is a valuable indicator of the positive impact of the exercise protocol implemented in the short and long term [4].…”

“…The authors from [4] presented a study on the long-and short-term effects of a scapular exercise on the function and pain in individuals with rotator-cuff-related pain syndrome (RCS) and anterior shoulder in-stability (ASI) [4]. The results presented were the outcome of a study performed in one hundred and eighty-three patients, from which 171 suffered from RCS and 66 from ASI.…”