The Effect of an Evidence-based Physiotherapy Regimen for Patients With Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy
Tendinopathy, Shoulder Impingement Syndrome, Shoulder Pain
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Tendinopathy focused on measuring Shoulder tendinopathy, Subacromial impingement syndrome, Rotator cuff tendinopathy, Supraspinatus tendinopathy
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
Patients on need for surgery ( placed at surgical waiting list at hospital or referred to surgery by their GP )
- Typical history with difficulties working with arms elevated over the head, and pain located in the upper segment of C5 dermatome.
- Symptom duration of minimum 3 months.
Three or more reproducible signs of rotator cuff tendinopathy / subacromial impingement:
- Positive isometric abduction and/or lateral rotation (Ombregt, Bisschop & Veer, 2003)
- Painful arc during active abduction (Ombregt, Bisschop & Veer, 2003)
- Positive Neers sign (Neer, 1972 ; Tennent, Beach & Meyers, 2003)
- Positive Jobes test (Jobe & Moynes, 1982 ; Tennent, Beach & Meyers, 2003)
- Positive Hawkins-Kennedy impingement test (Hawkins & Kennedy, 1980)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Shoulder pain due to trauma, e.g. fall.
- Reduced ROM consistent with adhesive capsulitis/frozen shoulder
- History in combination with examination and tests (apprehension/relocation), giving reason to suspect pathological instability
- Full thickness rupture of rotator cuff tendon
- OA of the glenohumeral joint, Os acromiale with decreased space of the subacromial space, previous fractures in the shoulder complex or shoulder surgery on the symptomatic side.
- Subjects with other comorbidity: Rheumatological or neurological disease, fibromyalgia or symptoms from the cervical spine
- Subjects suffering from serious psychiatric illness.
- Subjects unable to understand English or Norwegian.
- Less than 3 positive reproducible sings of rotator cuff pathology / subacromial disease.
Sites / Locations
- Department of Physiotherapy, Hillevaag General Practitioner PracticeRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Other
Structured Physiotherapy regimen
Standard care
Heavy-slow resistance training of rotator cuff . Scapular exercises. Manual mobilisation of glenohumeral joint . Stretching. Low Level Laser therapy
Standard care offered in primary care while waiting for surgery , this may be but are not limited to : Wait and see, Drugs ( NSAIDS ), Corticosteroid injections, physiotherapy or other conservative treatment options.