Influence of Kinetic Chain Training on the Treatment Outcome of Overhead Athletes With Impingement

University Ghent

Status: Completed

Conditions: Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

Treatments: Other: Traditional training; Other: Integrated kinetic chain training; Other: Separate kinetic chain training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02670174

2015/0816

Details and patient eligibility

About

A randomized controlled trial will be conducted to examine the effectiveness of a traditional home exercise program versus 2 kinetic chain home exercise programs on treatment outcome of overhead athletes with shoulder impingement syndrome. Primary outcome measures are reduction of pain and disability, and improvement in functionality and sports performance. Secondary outcome measures are strength, mobility, flexibility and functional performance.

Full description

Participant are randomly assigned in 3 home exercise groups.

1. The traditional program: consists of solely strengthening the rotator cuff muscles and scapular muscles (e.g. external rotation)
2. Separate kinetic chain program: same exercises as the first group but they also receive an exercise program to separately train the core and lower body. (e.g. external rotation separately and squat separately)
3. Integrated kinetic chain program: same exercises as the first group but all exercises are performed while simultaneously activating the kinetic chain. (e.g. external rotation while squatting).

Enrollment: 38 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Symptoms of shoulder impingement on the dominant side for at least 3 months and at least 3 of the following tests are considered positive

  • Jobe
  • Hawkins
  • Neer
  • Painful arc during elevation
  • Pain or lack of force production with isometric external rotation
  • Apprehension test
  • Relocation test

• Performing overhead sports at least 3 hours/week

• Shoulder pain interferes with sports activities

• They have not had treatment for this shoulder pain

Exclusion criteria

• History of shoulder dislocation or subluxation
• History of orthopedic surgery
• No complaints of pain or dysfunction in the upper limb (except impingement related complaints in the dominant shoulder), lower limb or spine at the last 6 months
• Currently taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication
• Received a steroid injection in the past 12 months
• Participating in another study
• Known systemic diseases
• Known structural diseases

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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38 participants in 3 patient groups

Traditional training

Active Comparator group

Description:

A home exercise program consisting of rotator cuff and scapular muscle training will be performed during 6 weeks (4 sessions/week). To monitor progress and control load progression, a physical therapist will visit the subject every week.

Treatment:

Other: Traditional training

Separate kinetic chain training

Experimental group

Description:

A home exercise program consisting of traditional training exercises as well as separate exercises focusing on core and lower limb training will be performed during 6 weeks (4 sessions/week). To monitor progress and control load progression, a physical therapist will visit the subject every week.

Treatment:

Other: Separate kinetic chain training

Integrated kinetic chain training

Experimental group

Description:

A home exercise program consisting of traditional training exercises while integrating core and lower limb training will be performed during 6 weeks (4 sessions/week). To monitor progress and control load progression, a physical therapist will visit the subject every week.

Treatment:

Other: Integrated kinetic chain training