A protocol for a new methodological model for work-related shoulder complex injuries: From diagnosis to rehabilitation.
Work-related injuries of the shoulder complex represent a challenge for clinicians because of the large variety of clinical entities involved and the broad anatomic structures that can be affected. Furthermore, commonly performed orthopedic tests have demonstrated limited accuracy for diagnosing the injury despite considerable research efforts. The aim of this study protocol is therefore to describe a comprehensive approach integrating both a clinical- and functional status-based pathology and an adapted rehabilitation prescription.



A longitudinal cohort study will be performed at the Department of Rehabilitation and Medical Assistance of a mutual insurance society for work-related injury management in Spain (Mutua Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra Spain). Patients will be attended by an occupational physician who specializes in work-related injuries and is part of the project team that will systematically visit all the participants. After the medical diagnosis and any requested supplementary evaluations (i.e., radiological examinations), the patients will be referred to the rehabilitation service. Before the physiotherapeutic rehabilitation program is initiated, the patients will undergo a comprehensive functional screening at the biomechanics laboratory. Using a decision-making scheme, the identified functional deficits will be used to customize the individual rehabilitation plan.



The proposed objective criteria-based shoulder diagnosis and rehabilitation model could be a new effective strategy for minimizing the time required to regain functional capacity and recover from symptoms among patients with work-related shoulder injuries.



The study protocol has been registered on Clinical Trials.gov as NCT02732002 (April 10th2016).
Department of Health Sciences, Public University of Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain.
Igor
I
Setuain
Mutua Navarra, Medical Assistance Inssurance Society, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain.
Miriam
M
Gonzalez-Izal
Mutua Navarra, Medical Assistance Inssurance Society, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain.
Ainara
A
Paularena
Mutua Navarra, Medical Assistance Inssurance Society, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain.
Jose Luis
JL
Luque
National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Department of Health Science and Technology, Physical Activity and Human Performance group, SMI, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
Lars L
LL
Andersen
Department of Health Sciences, Public University of Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain. mikel.izquierdo@gmail.com.
Mikel
0000-0002-1506-4272
M
Izquierdo
D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
Injury; Management; Shoulder; Work environment