Table 1

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteriaExclusion criteria

  • The study must have been published or ‘in press’ prior to 26 August 2013

  • Published research in English only

  • Studies conducted on humans

  • Studies conducted on adults (over 16 years of age)

  • A clear diagnosis of SIS (including rotator cuff tendinopathy or tendon pathology in association with a diagnosis of SIS), defined by a painful arc and positive impingement tests, such as the Hawkins-Kennedy test, Neer's test or Jobe's test or following an acceptable clinical assessment performed by an experienced clinician

  • The study must assess scapular orientation in subjects with symptomatic SIS compared to asymptomatic controls, that is, likely to be observational studies with a control group 

  • Duplicated publications

  • Studies investigating the effect of changing scapula orientation in asymptomatic participants or participants with other conditions, such as osteoarthritis, instability or full thickness rotator cuff tears, without a clear diagnostic criterion for SIS

  • Studies without a comparison group of asymptomatic controls

  • Cadaveric or animal studies

  • Single-subject case reports

  • Unpublished research

  • Studies without ethical approval

  • Trials not detailing unique data, that is, secondary citations 

  • SIS, subacromial impingement syndrome.