title: Effect of specific exercise strategy on need for surgery in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome: randomised controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Can a specific exercise strategy improve shoulder function and pain in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome, thereby decreasing the need for arthroscopic subacromial decompression?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with a control exercise group, patients in the specific exercise group had significantly greater improvements in shoulder function and pain and fewer patients needed surgery at the three month assessment.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Different exercise programmes are used as first line treatment in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome, but conclusive evidence to support the efficacy for these programmes is lacking. This specific exercise strategy proved effective in improving shoulder function and pain in patients in whom earlier conservative treatment had failed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Physiotherapy, Linköping University, SE-581 83, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Holmgren
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital, SE-581 85, Linköping.
authors.forename: Hanna Björnsson
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Hallgren
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Physiotherapy, Linköping University, SE-581 83, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Birgitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital, SE-581 85, Linköping.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Adolfsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Physiotherapy, Linköping University, SE-581 83, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kajsa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johansson