Strength Training and Proprioceptive Stimulation on Pain, Function, Quality of Life, Sleep Quality, and Psychosocial Factors in Older Adults With Shoulder Pain

Multi-joint Strength Exercises and Proprioceptive Somatosensory Stimulation on Pain, Function, Quality of Life, Sleep Quality, and Psychosocial Factors in Patients Over 60 Years of Age With Chronic Rotator Cuff-related Shoulder Pain

A single-blind randomized clinical trial with a pretest posttest design is proposed in adults over 60 years of age with chronic shoulder pain due to rotator cuff involvement. Participants will be divided into an experimental group that will receive a multi-joint strength exercise program along with proprioceptive somatosensory stimulation plus conventional treatment for 12 weeks and a control group that will only receive conventional treatment. Assessments will be performed at the beginning and end of the intervention by measuring pain with the NPRS and BPI SF scales, psychosocial factors with PCS FABQ PVAQ and TSK 11, functional disability with the Shoulder Rating Questionnaire, sleep quality with the Pittsburgh Index, and physical function with the Back Scratch Test, goniometry and inclinometer, shoulder dynamometry, and manual grip. It is expected that the combined intervention will significantly improve pain, associated psychosocial factors, quality of life, sleep, and functional capacity of participants.

Inclusion Criteria:

• People over 60 years of age.
• Be able to understand the instructions and answer the questionnaires designed for this study, as well as participate in the established physical tests.
• People with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (RCSRP) of at least 3 months' duration.
• Sign informed consent to participate in the study.
• Possible medical diagnoses to categorize you as RCSRP:
• Subacromial syndrome or subacromial pain syndrome.
• Subacromial impingement.
• Rotator cuff tendinopathy/tendinitis/tendinosis.
• Subdeltoid/subacromial bursitis.
• Non-traumatic partial tears of a rotator cuff tendon affecting less than 50% of the tendon thickness.
• Mild/moderate intrasubstance rotator cuff tears.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Complete/massive rotator cuff tears.
• Corticosteroid injections within the last 6 weeks.
• Recent surgery on that shoulder or planned surgery within the next 3 months.
• Bilateral shoulder pain.
• Presence of glenohumeral fractures or osteoarthritis confirmed by radiographic examination.
• Psychiatric illnesses or central or peripheral neurological disorders that make it difficult to grasp, cooperate, or follow instructions during the procedure.
• Individuals with an absolute contraindication to moderate-to-high-intensity physical exercise based on prior medical testing.
• Presence of severe difficulties with gait, balance, or functional activity, or hearing or vestibular disorders that prevent the performance of the prescribed exercises.
• Visual disturbances that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery.
• Being enrolled in another physical exercise or treatment program during the study.