Specific versus general exercise programme in adults with subacromial impingement syndrome: a randomised controlled...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) is a common cause of shoulder pain.
• Evidence on the effectiveness of different exercise types for SIS is controversial.
• Short-term effects of specific vs. general exercise programs on shoulder function in adults with SIS are not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the short-term (5-week) effects of a specific exercise program versus a general exercise program on shoulder function in adults with SIS.
• To evaluate the impact of these exercise programs on upper limb function, pain intensity, and kinesiophobia.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 52 adults with SIS.
• Participants were allocated to either a specific exercise group (n=26) or a general exercise group (n=26) for 5 weeks.
• Primary outcome: change in shoulder function (SPADI). Secondary outcomes: DASH, VAS, TSK.

Main Results:

• The specific exercise group showed statistically significant improvements in SPADI, DASH, VAS on movement, and TSK compared to the general exercise group.
• Effect sizes for most outcomes were medium to large, favoring the specific exercise group.
• Mediation analyses indicated that kinesiophobia and pain on movement influenced the effect of specific exercises on shoulder function.

Conclusions:

• Specific exercises may offer greater short-term benefits for shoulder function in adults with SIS compared to general exercises.
• However, most observed differences did not meet the minimum threshold for clinical importance.
• Further research is needed to establish exercise as a standard treatment for SIS.