Profiling the RCRSP Patient: a Pain Phenotype Classification Algorithm

Profiling the Rotator Cuff - Related Shoulder Pain (RCRSP) Patient: a Pain Phenotype Classification Algorithm

The aim of this study is to collect a sum of different characteristics that have been mentioned previously in people presenting with RCRSP and by clustering them to create a phenotype system which may assist the individualisation of their management

This study will be conducted at a hospital environment by recruiting people that will seek help for their shoulder pain by a specialist upper- limb Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Department of Hand & Upper Limb Microsurgery of the 'KAT General Hospital' in Athens, Greece. Participants that will be diagnosed with RCRSP by the orthopaedic surgeon and fulfil the eligibility criteria will undergo a series of one-off measurements. Written consent will have to be obtained before a sum of self-reported outcome measures and objective testing will take place. The main categories for which outcome measures will be used are: pain, function, psychosocial and lifestyle factors.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age: 18-65
• Pain: >3 months, non-traumatic, unilateral or bilateral of anterolateral location
• ROM: >50% all planes, AROM painful in forward flexion and/or abduction
• Provocation testing: Hawkins-Kennedy, Neer, Painful Arc, Resisted ER, Empty Can (3 or more out of the 5 +ve)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pain < 3months
• History of neck or shoulder trauma
• Radicular signs, shoulder pain reproduced with neck movements
• GH OA
• Frozen Shoulder
• Tears >C3 according to Snyder Classification
• Fibromyalgia
• Neurological, systemic local or autoimmune inflammatory conditions
• Clinical depression
• No injected corticosteroids or physiotherapy the last 3/12