The Immediate Effect of Mulligan's Mobilization With Movement on Shoulder Girdle' Pain, Range of Motion and Muscle Activity, in Subjects With Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

The Immediate Effect of Mulligan's Mobilization With Movement on Shoulder Girdle' Pain, Range of Motion and Muscle Activity, in Subjects With Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

The aim of present study was to evaluate the immediate effect of Mulligan's mobilization with movement on shoulder girdle' pain, range of motion (ROM) and muscle activity, in subjects with shoulder impingement syndrome

A randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted with a sample composed by twenty-four volunteers with SIS, divided in Mulligan's MWM and Placebo groups. Pain intensity in Neer impingement signal and Hawkins-Kennedy impingement test, pressure pain threshold (PPT) on the lateral aspect of shoulder, ROM of shoulder scaption until onset of pain, as well as the activity of trapezius (upper, middle and lower fibers) and serratus anterior muscles during this movement, were evaluated before and immediate (post-) intervention. The Mulligan's MWM group received a mobilization with movement technique in the glenohumeral joint (sustained posterolateral glide during shoulder scaption), while no effective intervention was performed in the Placebo group.

Inclusion Criteria:

Participants had superolateral shoulder pain and two out of four specified objective signs and symptoms:

• positive Neer test;
• positive Hawkins-Kennedy test;
• painful limitation of active arm elevation (flexion, abduction, scaption);
• pain or limitation with functional movement patterns of hand behind back or hand behind head.

Exclusion Criteria:

• physician diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis;
• grade III rotator cuff tear;
• calcific tendinosis confirmed by radiology;
• systemic or neurological disorder;
• cervical radiculopathy; a history of shoulder surgery;
• corticosteroid injection within the past month;
• subjects who had received physical therapy intervention for their shoulder within the past three months.