Shoulder School: A Multicenter Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

Sandra Jiménez-del-Barrio

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Subacromial Impingement Syndrome

Treatments: Other: Control (Standard treatment); Other: EXERCISE TRAINING WITH OR WITHOUT MEDICATION

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06778551

REF CEIm 3200

Details and patient eligibility

About

Subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) is the most common cause of shoulder pain. Patients with SIS present with localized shoulder pain, sometimes nocturnal, which leads to a decrease in shoulder strength and function, significantly affecting their quality of life. Several authors have proposed that reduced scapular movement could be a direct causal mechanism for the symptoms associated with SIS. There is evidence supporting the benefits of passive techniques applied to the scapula and thoracic spine in terms of symptom relief and improved function.

The high healthcare demand from patients with SIS, combined with long waiting lists in physiotherapy, rehabilitation, and trauma services related to this dysfunction, underscores the need for a group-based therapeutic exercise strategy.

Objective To analyze the effects of a shoulder school program led by a physiotherapist and based on therapeutic exercise focused on active scapular and thoracic work, compared to conventional treatment in patients with SIS referred to Primary Care Physiotherapy Units (UFAP), regarding pain, functional capacity, and quality of life.

Methods Design: Single-blind, multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled non-inferiority study.

Sample: Patients with SIS referred to UFAP. Dependent Variables: Pain, functional capacity, quality of life, joint mobility, scapular function, and patient satisfaction.

Independent Variables:

Intervention group: Shoulder school program including exercises focused on scapular, thoracic, and rotator cuff function.

Control group: Conventional physiotherapy treatment. Randomization: Cluster randomization by centers. Analysis: Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 25.0.

Clinical Implications This study will provide objective data on the effects of implementing a group exercise program guided by a physiotherapist. The results could offer evidence for a resource that may be highly useful in Primary Care Physiotherapy. This approach has the potential to optimize labor, time, and space resources within this healthcare service.

Enrollment: 40 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Be over 18 years old
• Shoulder pain lasting more than 6 weeks, attributable to rotator cuff tendinopathy or tendinosis, subacromial impingement syndrome, or subacromial pinching, according to the diagnostic criteria of the British Shoulder and Elbow Society. Must meet 2 of the following criteria: painful arc during flexion or abduction, positive Neer test, positive Hawkins-Kennedy test, or pain with resisted movement of external rotation, abduction, or positive Jobe test.
• Ability to understand and complete the evaluation questionnaires

Exclusion criteria

• History of significant shoulder trauma (fractures, dislocations, complete tears requiring surgery)
• Neurological disorders affecting the shoulder
• Other severe shoulder pathologies (inflammatory arthritis, frozen shoulder, or glenohumeral instability)
• Received corticosteroid injections or physical therapy for the shoulder in the last 6 months
• Referred to another specialized care service, such as surgery, due to SIS
• Pregnancy
• BMI (Body Mass Index) greater than 30 kg/m².

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

Exercise group

Experimental group

Description:

A therapeutic exercise protocol will be carried out, consisting of 2 sessions per week for 8 weeks, supervised and guided by a physiotherapist. The objective is to improve thoracic mobility, as well as the strength and motor control of the scapular retractor and protractor muscles (middle and lower trapezius, rhomboids, and serratus anterior) and the rotator cuff.

Treatment:

Other: EXERCISE TRAINING WITH OR WITHOUT MEDICATION

Control group

Active Comparator group

Description:

The protocol will include the application of therapeutic ultrasound. For this application, ultrasound gel will be used to reduce friction and improve the transmission of waves. Using a 5 cm² transducer, pulsed ultrasound will be applied at a frequency of 3 MHz and an intensity of 1 W/cm² for 10 minutes. Patients will be informed that they should not feel any sensation during the procedure, and if they do, the intensity will be reduced. Finally, kinesitherapy will be applied through classic shoulder mobility exercises.

Treatment:

Other: Control (Standard treatment)