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The Effectiveness of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Patients With Subacromial Impingement Syndrome: A
Yasemin Karaaslan1, Yasemin Sahbaz, Dildade Dilek Dogan
1From the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Health Sciences Faculty, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey (YK); Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Health Sciences Faculty, Beykent University, Istanbul, Turkey (YS); Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Istanbul Sile State Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey (DDD); Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Beylikduzu State Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey (NZ); Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Bakırkoy Dr Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey (SA); and Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Health Sciences Faculty, Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University, Bandirma, Turkey (EKM).
Objective:
The aim of the study is to compare the effects of exercise training plus neuromuscular electrical stimulation with exercise training alone on shoulder function, pain, range of motion, and muscle strength in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome.
Design:
Patients were randomly divided into groups of exercise training ( n = 24) and exercise training + neuromuscular electrical stimulation ( n = 24). Shoulder function was evaluated with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire, pain level was assessed with a visual analog scale, range of motion was measured with a goniometer, and muscle strength was assessed with a handheld dynamometer baseline and at the end of treatment (week 8).
Results:
In both groups, shoulder function, range of motion, and muscle strength (except flexion muscle strength in the exercise training group) increased, while pain decreased ( P < 0.05). Compared with the exercise training group, visual analog scale-activity and visual analog scale-night decreased more, and external-rotation range of motion and whole muscle strength increased more in the exercise training + neuromuscular electrical stimulation group ( P < 0.05). On the other hand, the effect sizes were medium to large for both groups.
Conclusions:
The addition of neuromuscular electrical stimulation treatment to exercise training did not improve shoulder function, which is the primary outcome, more than exercise training alone, but increased muscle strength and range of motion (external-rotation only) and decreased pain (activity-night), which are the secondary outcomes.
