title: Supervised exercises compared with radial extracorporeal shock-wave therapy for subacromial shoulder pain: 1-year results of a single-blind randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence from a recent randomized controlled trial indicated that supervised exercises (SE) were more effective than radial extracorporeal shock-wave therapy (rESWT) for the treatment of subacromial shoulder pain in the short to medium term. Little knowledge exists about the long-term results of rESWT for subacromial pain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of rESWT and SE provided to patients with subacromial shoulder pain after 1 year.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a single-blind randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in the outpatient clinic of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department at Oslo University Hospital, Ullevaal, Norway.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred four patients with subacromial shoulder pain lasting at least 3 months participated. Patients were randomly assigned to either an rESWT group (n=52) or an SE group (n=52).
  
  
  METHODS
  The rESWT intervention consisted of one session weekly for 4 to 6 weeks. The SE intervention consisted of two 45-minute sessions per week for up to 12 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measure was the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index. Secondary outcome measures were questions regarding pain and function and work status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 1 year, an intention-to-treat analysis showed no significant differences between the 2 groups for the primary outcome measure (-7.6 points, 95% confidence interval=-16.6 to 0.5) and pain, function, and medication use. Twenty-nine participants (60%) in the SE group versus 24 participants (52%) in the rESWT group were categorized as clinically improved. Thirty-eight participants in the SE group were at work compared with 30 participants in the rESWT group (odds ratio=1.1, 95% confidence interval=1.0 to 1.2). Fewer patients in the SE group had received additional treatments between 18 weeks and 1 year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lack of a placebo control group, the lack of a cost-benefit analysis, and the small sample size were limitations of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No significant difference was found between the SE and rESWT groups at the 1-year follow-up. More participants in the SE group had returned to work.
authors.affiliation: Oslo University Hospital, Ullevaal, Kirkeveien 166, 0407 Oslo, Norway. kaiabe@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Kaia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Engebretsen
authors.forename: Margreth
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grotle
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bautz-Holter
authors.forename: Ole Marius
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Ekeberg
authors.forename: Niels Gunnar
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Juel
authors.forename: Jens Ivar
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Brox
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D009664:Norway; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010147:Pain Measurement; D019534:Shoulder Impingement Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome