Does physical activity provide additional benefit in individuals with rotator cuff related shoulder pain?

Rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP) causes pain, functional loss and reduced quality of life. Although physical activity has been shown to reduce pain and improve overall well-being, its additional effect has not yet been investigated specifically in individuals with RCRSP.

To investigate the effect of adding physical activity to supervised exercise on pain, function, quality of life, and satisfaction in individuals with RCRSP.

Randomized controlled trial.

42 participants were randomly assigned into two groups. The Physical Activity Group (n = 21) received moderate-intensity walking exercise in addition to supervised exercise and the Control Group (n = 21) received only supervised exercise for 6 weeks. The outcome measures were Numeric Pain Rating Scale(NPRS), The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment(ASES), The shortened Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire(Quick DASH), Rotator Cuff Quality of Life (RCQOL), Western-Ontario Rotator Cuff Index(WORC) and Global Rating of Change scales(GROC) scores.

Between-group differences in outcomes at follow-up were analyzed using one-way ANCOVA. There was a significant difference between the two groups in post-intervention scores on the NPRS-activity (Mean difference [MD]: -0.9 [95 % Confidence interval: -1.5,-0.3]; p = 0.003), NPRS-night (MD:-0.8 [-1.5,-0.1]; p = 0.02), ASES (MD:8.1 [2.5,13.7]; p = 0.01), Quick DASH (MD:-7.6 [-13.2,-1.9]; p = 0.01), and RC-QOL (MD:6.5 [0.2,12.9]; p = 0.04), favoring the Physical Activity Group. In contrast, no significant between-group differences were found in WORC-Emotions (MD:-5 [-13.2,3.2]; p = 0.23) or GROC(χ² = 0.79; p > 0.05).

Adding physical activity to supervised exercise may significantly improve pain, function, quality of life, and satisfaction in individuals with RCRSP.