title: Usefulness of rehabilitation in patients with rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy after ultrasound-guided percutaneous treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of a specific rehabilitation program for patients in whom ultrasound-guided percutaneous treatment (UGPT) was performed for rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy (RCCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective observational study, 86 patients (22 males and 64 females) with shoulder calcific tendinopathy treated with UGPT were enrolled. At the end of the procedure, a corticosteroid injection into the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa was performed. The patients were then asked to follow a specific rehabilitation protocol (2 times/week for 5 weeks) that focused on mobility, strength and function. At baseline and after 6 weeks, clinical parameters, visual analog scale (VAS) and Constant-Murley scale (CMS) scores and ultrasound (US) features were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the patients was 48.9 ± 8.4 years and their mean BMI was 22.7 ± 2.1. Considering the whole cohort, the treatment was effective, with a significant decrease in the VAS score and an improvement in the CMS score. Thereafter, on the basis of the compliance to the rehabilitation program (by self-report), 53 and 33 patients were included in the rehabilitation group (Rehab group; performed exercises ≥2 times/week) and the No Rehab group (performed exercises <2 times/week), respectively. The comparison between the groups showed that the subjects who performed the exercises regularly had better results in terms of pain and functional recovery, and less associated diseases (e.g. adhesive bursitis and tenosynovitis of the long head of the biceps) than those who were less compliant with the program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  UGPT, followed by a specific postprocedure rehabilitation program, was an effective treatment for RCCT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University G. d'Annunzio, Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abate
authors.forename: Cosima
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schiavone
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Salini
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D001031:Apatites; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D017006:Rotator Cuff; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods; D064232:Visual Analog Scale
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D001031:Apatites; C030782:carboapatite