Scapular Upward Rotation Focused Treatment for Patient With Shoulder Impingement Syndrome and a Positive Scapular Assistance Test

Scapular Upward Rotation Focused Treatment for Patients With Shoulder Impingement Syndrome and a Positive Scapular Assistance Test

Altered scapular movement is a common impairment among patients with subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS). Nevertheless scapular focused interventions have resulted in conflicting findings among this population. One possible reason for this is the inability to identify patients with SAIS who will respond favorably to a scapular focused intervention.

The scapular assistance test (SAT) may be one possible indicator of patients most likely to benefit from a scapular focused intervention, particularly one that emphasizes scapular upward rotation. The purpose of this study is to examine targeted upward rotation intervention in patients demonstrating a positive Scapular Assistance test.

Background: Patients with SAIS are commonly referred to physical therapy. A common impairment among patients with SAIS is altered scapular movement, characterized by insufficient upward rotation and posterior tilt. These deficits are believed to decrease the subacromial space and diminish length -tension relationship among the deltoid and rotator cuff musculature. The scapular assistance test (SAT) is a physical examination manoeuvre aimed to detect patients in whom insufficient scapular upward rotation and posterior tilt contribute to the generation of shoulder symptoms. The SAT may, therefore, serve as an indication for the need of scapular focused intervention. Given the inconsistent results of scapular focused interventions among patients with SAIS, the purpose of this study is to assess the outcome of a scapular-focused intervention, particularly geared toward increasing scapular upward rotation, among patients with SAIS that exhibit a positive SAT as well.

Methods: Fifty patients with SAIS and a positive SAT referred to the "Meuhedet" outpatient physical therapy clinic in Ashdod will be recruited for this study. Following baseline assessment, patients will be randomized into 12 sessions over a 6-week period. The intervention group will receive manual therapy and an exercise program focused on increasing scapular upward rotation while the control group will receive manual therapy and an exercise program focused on scapular muscle an rotator cuff strengthening with no special emphasis on scapular upward rotation. Repeated measures analysis of covariance will be conducted to detect differences in pain intensity, shoulder -related disability and scapular upward rotation following the intervention

Inclusion Criteria:

• Unilateral shoulder pain for ≥1 month
• A diagnosis of SAIS as determined by having 3 or ore positive tests out of: Neer test, Hawkins test, Painful arc, Jobe test, external rotation resistance test.
• A positive SAT

Exclusion criteria:

• Cervical spine involvement as evidenced by reproduction of symptoms with neck movement

• Massive rotator cuff tear as evidenced by pseudoparalysis

• Previous history of a fracture or surgery within the involved shoulder.

• Limited passive range of motion by ≥50% or more compared with uninvolved side in

  • 2 planes of motion (i.e. flexion, external rotation)

• A history of shoulder dislocation or subluxation

• A history of Rheumatoid arthritis, CVA, fibromyalgia

• Current pregnancy

• Population with special needs

• Pending disability claim / litigation procedure associated with shoulder complaint.