Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of individualized manual physiotherapy and
exercises compared with individualized exercises alone in patients with shoulder
impingement syndrome. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SUBJECTS: Patients
with shoulder impingement of more than 4 weeks' duration. METHODS: Patients in
the intervention group were treated with individually adapted exercises and
examination-based physiotherapy. Controls were treated with individually adapted
exercises only. Both groups had 10 treatment sessions over a period of 5 weeks
and subsequently continued their exercises at home for another 7 weeks. Results
were analysed at 5 and 12 weeks after the start of the study. Primary outcome
measures were: Shoulder Pain and Disability Index,
and Patient's Global
Impression of Change. Secondary outcome measures were: mean weekly pain score;
Generic Patient-Specific Scale; and Patients' Satisfaction with Treatment.
RESULTS: A total of 46 patients were randomized to the intervention group and 44
to the control group. Although both groups showed significant improvements, there
was no difference between groups for the primary and secondary outcomes at any
time. Only the results for mean pain differed at 5 weeks in favour of the
intervention group. CONCLUSION: Individually adapted exercises were effective in
the treatment of patients with shoulder impingement syndrome. Individualized
manual physiotherapy contributed only a minor amount to the improvement in pain
intensity. However, further research is necessary to confirm these results before definite recommendations can be made.

Langue : ANGLAIS