FRI0698-HPR A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL COMPARING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF 6 AND 12 WEEKS OF A SHOULDER SPECIFIC EXERCISE PROGRAMME FOR PATIENTS WITH ROTATOR CUFF RELATED SHOULDER PAIN

Abstract

Background: Research has shown loaded exercise to be beneficial for patients with rotator cuff related shoulder pain in terms of improving shoulder function, self-reported disability and pain1,2. The optimal duration for which these patients should complete a loaded exercise programme to achieve beneficial effects remains unclear. Objective(s): The purpose of this study is to determine if 6 weeks of a supervised shoulder specific exercise programme is as effective as 12 weeks of the same programme, for improving shoulder function, selfreported disability and pain, in patients with rotator cuff related shoulder pain. Method(s): In this randomised controlled single-blinded study patients with a history of lateral upper arm pain with MRI confirmation of rotator cuff pathology or positive testing on a cluster of clinical rotator cuff tests were included. Patients with a recent history of shoulder surgery or a shoulder fracture were excluded. Participants were randomly assigned to complete either 6 weeks (short group) or 12 weeks (long group) of the exercise programme. Both groups performed the same specific set of loaded exercises daily at home and attended 6 clinic-based group exercise sessions2. Participants were assessed at 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months. Shoulder function was assessed using the Constant-Murley (CM) score. Disability was assessed using the QuickDash and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). Pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale. Group comparisons were made using univariate generalised linear models. Result(s): 85 patients were included in this study as per Table 1. Within each group shoulder function, self-reported disability and pain improved significantly at 3 months (p < .05). Comparisons at 3 months showed the long group had significantly lower pain scores (p = .02). At 3 months there was no significant difference between the two groups in the CM score (p = .415), SPADI score (p = .053) and QuickDash score (p = .245). However, at 6 months, the long group had significantly greater changes in both the CM score (p = .007) and the SPADI score (p = .002). Conclusion(s): In the management of patients with rotator cuff related shoulder pain the findings of this study indicate that a 12 week exercise programme results in better outcomes for pain at 3 months and self-disability and shoulder function at 6 months.