Author/year | Condition | Experimental group | Comparison group(s) | Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Soft tissue massage and exercise versus no treatment | ||||
Godges et al (2003) | Patient group: limited shoulder external rotation and overhead reach MOR: block randomisation using random number table Two groups: STM+PNF; no treatment control | STM + PNF group n=10 (5 males, 5 females) Age=60.8±22.3 years DOS=not stated Single treatment intervention Intervention: STM to subscapularis, contract–relax PNF for subscapularis and other glenohumeral internal rotators | No treatment group n=10 (5 males, 5 females) Age=58.6±16.5 years DOS=not stated Intervention: no treatment | Follow-up period Immediately following single treatment Outcome measures External rotation (goniometer) Flexion (centimetres reached up wall) |
Soft tissue massage+multimodal treatment versus placebo | ||||
Bennell et al (2010) | Patient group: chronic rotator cuff disease >3 months MOR: permuted block randomisation Two groups: STM+exercise+taping+mobilisation; placebo ultrasound control | STM, scapular retraining, postural taping, spinal mobilisation and home exercises group n=59 (34 males, 25 females) Age=59.3±10.1 years DOS=24months (IQR 6–54) Intervention: STM, scapular retraining, postural taping, gleno-humeral mobilisation and home exercises Ten treatment sessions over 10 weeks with home exercise for an additional 12 weeks after that | Placebo ultrasound group n=61 (30 males, 31 females) Age=60.8±12.4 years DOS=14 months (IQR 6–24) Intervention: sham ultrasound therapy to the shoulder for 10 min for 10 treatment sessions over 10 weeks | Follow-up period 11 and 22 weeks Outcome measures Pain and function: using Shoulder Pain and Disability Index Pain: pain on movement (11-point Likert scale) Pain at rest (11-point Likert scale) Disability: weakness on movement (11-point Likert scale) Stiffness on movement (11-point Likert scale) Interference with activity (11-point Likert scale) Quality of life: SF-36 questionnaire+ assessment of quality of life instrument (−0.4 to 1.0) Strength: abduction, external rotation, internal rotation (hand-held dynamometer (kg) |
Bron et al (2011) | Patient group: patients with shoulder pain referred to a primary care practice for physiotherapy MOR: random number generator Two groups: manual compression of trigger points, stretching and intermittent cold application; waiting list control | Manual compression of trigger points, stretching and intermittent cold application n=34 (13 males, 21 females) Age=42.8±11.7 years DOS=29% 6–9 months, 12% 9–12 months, 23% 1–2 years, 36% >2 years Intervention: manual compression of trigger points, stretching and intermittent cold application once weekly for maximum 12 weeks | Waiting list control group n=31 (11 males, 23 females) Age=45.0±13.2 years DOS=16% 6–9 months, 26% 9–12 months, 19% 1–2 years, 39% >2 years Intervention: no treatment control on waiting list for 3 months | Follow-up period: 6 and 12 weeks Outcome measures Pain and function: using Shoulder Pain and Disability Index Pain: current pain, average pain past 7 days and worst pain over past 7 days using a 10 cm VAS pain scale Combined function, pain, social and emotional: Disabilities of the Shoulder and Hand questionnaire) ROM: passive ROM using digital inclinometer Number of trigger points: manual count |
Soft tissue massage and joint mobilisation and exercise versus active controls | ||||
Senbursa et al (2011) | Patient group: partial supraspinatus tear (stage 1) and/or supraspinatus impingement syndrome MOR: computer-generated random numbers Three groups: supervised exercise; supervised exercise+joint and soft tissue mobilisation; self-exercise group | Supervised exercise + joint mobilisation and soft tissue massage group n=30 (gender not provided) Age=50.5±10.6 years DOS=not provided Intervention: supervised stretching and strengthening exercises for the rhomboid, levator scapulae, serratus anterior and rotator cuff muscles, deep friction massage on the supraspinatus muscle, radial nerve stretching, scapular mobilisation, glenohumeral joint mobilisation and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation techniques three times a week for 12 weeks | Supervised exercise n=25 (gender not provided) Age=48.2±7.9 years DOS=not provided Intervention: supervised stretching and strengthening exercises for the rhomboid, levator scapulae, serratus anterior and rotator cuff muscles three times a week for 12 weeks, under supervision of a physiotherapist. Self-exercise group n=22 (gender not provided) Age=48.0±9.0 years DOS=not provided Intervention: self-exercise programme for the rhomboid, levator scapulae serratus anterior and rotator cuff muscles at home | Follow-up period 4 weeks, 12 weeks Outcome measures Night pain, rest pain and pain with movement on 10 cm using VAS Function: modified American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon's questionnaire Strength: tested manually on scale 0 (lowest) to 5 (highest) ROM: using a goniometer |
DOS, duration of symptoms; IQR, IQ range; MOR, method of randomisation; n, number of participants in group; PNF, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation; PT, physiotherapy; ROM, range of motion; STM, soft tissue massage; VAS, visual analog scales. ±, figures are SD.