title: The subacromial impingement syndrome of the shoulder treated by conventional physiotherapy, self-training, and a shoulder brace: results of a prospective, randomized study.
abstract: This prospective, randomized trial was performed to compare the results of treating subacromial impingement syndrome of the shoulder by a guided self-training program with the treatment by conventional physiotherapy or a functional brace. Sixty patients with the diagnosis of an outlet impingement syndrome of the shoulder (Neer I and II) were treated either by strengthening the depressors of the humeral head with a guided self-training program, by conventional physiotherapy, or by wearing a functional brace. The Constant-Murley score was assessed after 6 and 12 weeks. Shoulder pain was monitored with a visual analog scale. All three groups showed a significant improvement in shoulder function as well as a significant reduction in pain. There were no statistically significant differences among the groups. Guided self-training can lead to results similar to those of conventional physiotherapy. The comparable effect of the functional brace remains unclear and might be explained by an influence on proprioception.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany. m-walther.klh@mail.uni-wuerzburg.de
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walther
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stahlschmidt
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Woelfel
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gohlke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001915:Braces; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012648:Self Care; D019534:Shoulder Impingement Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome